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The study presents the authors' research for the purpose of designing ImGame, a virtual environment inviting users to playfully learn about the concept of immersion and its historical antecedents. The authors describe ImGame's current pre-production stage and examine the basic characteristics of the feeling of immersion. They intend to deepen the current understanding of the immersive experience in art, taking into account its broad cultural connotations. The article suggests that the aesthetics of immersion can be classified into two psychological modes that have not been explicitly defined in the discourse of immersivity: a calm reflection and one of awe. From the technical standpoint, the project offers a simple handling of triggering animations and events of the game as well as storing of their state in order to create gamification elements, interactions for quizzes and other activities for ImGame or any other game using the a-frame framework to create WebXR experiences.

Given the crucial role of writing in both academic and workplace settings, teachers should constantly seek effective ways to improve their students' writing skills. The use of games or their elements to support the teaching and learning of writing has gained much attention in language education studies. Despite the increasing number of empirical studies in the field, there has been no systematic investigation of what games, or their elements, have been applied in the writing classroom. The aim of this study was to summarize the empirical evidence on using game-related approaches, including game-based learning and gamification, to teach writing. Twenty-two studies were analyzed, revealing the following findings: (1) various types of games were used for writing instruction, including digital educational games, non-digital educational games, and digital non-educational games; (2) digital educational games were the most common game type reported in the literature, and such games were used to create authentic and interactive learning environments, provide writing practice opportunities, and evaluate students' writing skills; (3) various game elements, such as points, leaderboards, storylines, and role-playing, were incorporated to develop gamified activities; and (4) students participated in such gamified activities in online and hybrid modes. Taken as a whole, the findings show how games and their elements are used for teaching and learning writing. Suggestions and implications are provided for practitioners and researchers in the field.

Background: Serious games and game-based learning are widely used in education. Gaming in logistics education relies on serious gaming with no or less consideration on enjoyment. Intervention: This study examines in a first step whether and if so, how (serious) games are used as part of logistics majors' curricula at German universities. Based on the findings, an entertainment game about warehousing is developed and validated. Methods: Warehousing is an application-based discipline in which the operation of different picking techniques has an impact on the order picking. To help students understand the impact of such techniques, the 2D game WareMover was developed. The open-access game combines education and entertainment with different gamification objects and can be played in singleplayer or multiplayer mode. In this competitive 2D game, the objective is to pick orders by navigating around the warehouse towards the right shelf and to click on the correct storage compartment. The player has to achieve the highest score, which is determined by the fastest and least erroneous delivery. Four different picking techniques can be used in two game modes. Results: The results of a 14-player game session are presented. All players played both game variants with all picking techniques and completed a questionnaire. The players rated the game as user-friendly, entertaining, didactically useful, suitable for teaching and education, and engaging. In addition, the majority of players would play the game again and recommend it to others. Conclusion: The open-source game WareMover can contribute to studies in the field of warehousing by teaching students about picking techniques and the differences between these techniques. The novel game approach of interpreting a serious game as an entertainment game can increase the enjoyment and motivation of the players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmedia skill, derived from the process of converting films into educational games using augmented reality and artificial intelligence, involves employing various languages and mediums to adapt an original narrative to another format. This transmedia practice presents an opportunity to cultivate diverse skills in teacher training by transforming film narratives into educational games with Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Moreover, these educational games enable student engagement in missions or challenges, enhancing their engagement with educational activities. Thus, this research stems from an Innovation project implemented in the Degree in Early Childhood Education (N=77) with two groups of university students who developed 24 educational games in physical and digital formats. The objectives are: 1) to compare the transmedia process adopted by both groups when converting children's animation films into games, some in digital format and others combining physical and digital resources; and 2) to analyze their transmedia skill reflected in the games developed. The methodology adopted is non-experimental empirical, with a descriptive and comparative nature. Two instruments were designed and validated, one to analyze the transmedia process followed in each case and another to ascertain the level of transmedia skill of the university students. The results reveal that both groups chose different creative approaches to gamify the films, expanding their stories by leveraging the potential of AR and AI to create interactive characters and settings. From this, their transmedia capability could be inferred. Thus, the use of digital applications to collaboratively design games—utilizing film narratives—represented an innovation in their training, holistically enhancing various skills. In conclusion, this experience presents an opportunity to increase the transmedia skills of future educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nation's education-related information reform is making slow progress in light of the recent significant advancements in information technology. Early childhood education informatization has become a crucial part of the national education informatization building, serving as the first link in the chain of lifelong learning. This paper analyzes the significance of using children's games in the classroom and the significance of incorporating new media resources into children's course games by fusing the benefits of new media resources for teaching in a real-world educational setting. The goal is to realize the gamification of early childhood education courses and strengthen the management and deepening of course resources. The study also shows that customer involvement serves as a mediator between a better brand experience and a consumer's desire to make another purchase from the business. Subsequent interviews demonstrated that the following factors accounted for users' motivations for using the app: rewards, competition, feeling of accomplishment, and knowledge acquisition; engagement and identity clarified how using the gamified application affected users' attitude and loyalty towards the main service. In summary, our contribution advances the understanding of how gamified affordances can enhance consumer experiences by adding value to the focus brand that is facilitated by a third-party app as well as the gamified consuming experiences themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In search of a way to bring back the positive aspects of an internship into the curriculum, TU Delft identified serious games as a potential solution. The literature studied showed that games could increase motivation and understanding, leading to improve knowledge retention. This paper has brought these insights together in a framework identifying the benefits that contribute to knowledge retention but also the requirements and risks for the application of serious games to be addressed. These insights were used to explain the success of a longstanding business game course for advanced students first. Next was the development of a virtual reality practice in a first-year course to replace the lost internship. In this case, knowledge retention was improved significantly, albeit only by 5%. Furthermore, in light of the developed framework, the VR simulation is a more balanced approach with fewer risks compared to the more extensive master course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing interest in applying gamified designs in higher education is challenged by mixed results in terms of student acceptance. Different players are attracted to games for different reasons and game design elements, and a better understanding of how each learner will connect to different game mechanics provides valuable input for game design and evaluation. In this paper, we present and validate a scale to measure the affinity of each player with different game elements. First, a theoretical review was carried out on three profile classifications and six motivational theoretical models, proposing a taxonomy for twelve player profiles based on three axes: relational, competence and motivational. Then, a pilot test was carried out with 54 subjects, analysing content and comprehension validity through the judgment of six experts and construct validity through an exploratory factorial analysis. Subsequently, with a sample of 1010 subjects, a confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The scale was made up of 30 items, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.822; three main components were obtained: dominators, interactors and trackers. The results show the validity of the scale, with high levels of confidence. It provides an understanding of the player's profile in a playful context, their motivational orientation and their affinity with the specific game design. This can be used to improve the design of gamified experiences in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teaching of structural analysis is essential in the training of undergraduate students who will be qualified in structural calculations. The use of games in learning can motivate students and improve their performances in evaluations. To this end, H5P-based matching games have been adopted in Moodle for a structural analysis course as an optional assignment to train graphs of internal forces (GIFs). Although the students knew that participating in the games would positively impact their grades, they were not informed of the exact number of extra points they would receive based on their performances. The engagement, motivation and performance of the students were analyzed using various statistics. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the game in facilitating knowledge acquisition was evaluated by comparing the students' performances in the games to their performances in the GIF exercises during face-to-face examinations. The study found that the students who participated in the games exhibited high levels of motivation and engagement. In addition, the results indicate that the participants had a moderately improved understanding of GIFs when taking the course examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, gamification has been increasingly mentioned as an innovative methodology to achieve meaningful and dynamic learning. Role-playing game-based strategies fall into this category. The aim of this work is to explore the benefits, possible uses and problems that they present, in order to have a more precise perspective on their use. Toward achieving this objective, qualitative research has been carried out based on in-depth interviews with two educators who use this methodology. The results confirm both the feasibility and the potential benefits of this didactic approach. The influence of the context and the additional time and workload involved in carrying out this type of project were also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies highlight researchers' concerns about how science should be taught today. It is recognised that teachers have difficulty involving and motivating students to learn about different complex topics, such as geology. Schools must promote skills development to develop citizens who can be active and informed in society. One way of undertaking this is to use active methodologies such as educational games, in which students play an essential role in developing activities. Games encourage changes in conceptions regarding the relevance of this scientific topic that is often undervalued by students. Games have gained space in recent years in several disciplines, and it is essential that this tool is thought out and planned within a consistent pedagogical proposal. This educational resource is used to increase motivation for learning, as well as enhance and strengthen the effects of learning. An intervention plan can be framed within game-based teaching. Teachers have been underrepresented in the game-based learning literature, with more emphasis on games' effects. However, the pedagogical issue of games has been particularly relevant in recent decades. The current investigation used a survey given to geology teachers (n = 112) from public and private middle and secondary schools in Portugal. Its purpose was to assess teachers' perceptions regarding game-based teaching and its potential to promote active learning. Our sample ages ranged from 24 to 64 years (average of 48.9 years old); 81.3% were women and 18.8% were men. The analysis of the results seems to confirm that although they do not always use games to promote learning in geology, most teachers still recognise their potential to motivate, enhance, and reinforce the learning of geological content, with digital games being the preferred option. They emphasise the importance of teacher training in this area and the inclusion of game applications in school textbooks to approach different geology-related themes. Our results seem to indicate some lack of consistency in teachers' opinions on the impact of games on student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior work systematically investigating the factors contributing to flow experience and learning in educational games is scarce. The relationship between learners' acceptance of the game and individual difference variables relevant to game-based learning and learners' flow experience and learning still needs to be systematically explored. To address the gap in knowledge, the study aimed to systematically examine whether variables of technology acceptance and individual differences relevant to game-based learning may predict flow experience and knowledge acquisition in an educational game. A total of 69 undergraduate students participated in the current study. Results indicated students' flow experience was predicted by some constructs of technology acceptance, namely, perceived playfulness and perceived attractiveness of the game. Five constructs of technology acceptance of the game, however, did not significantly predict learners' knowledge acquisition, although the correlation between perceived playfulness and knowledge acquisition from the game approached significance. Prior knowledge was found to be a negative predictor of knowledge acquisition from the game, that is, those with insufficient prior knowledge achieved greater knowledge acquisition from the game. Findings were discussed, and suggestions for future research were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter, we explore how faculty employ the use of gamification and game‐based learning environments (GBLE) in postsecondary education. Gamification refers to the use of game‐design elements while game‐based learning refers to the use of digital education games. Both are increasingly popular instructional practices and, in this chapter, we specifically examine their potential for supporting students' self‐regulated learning (SRL). Important for academic success, SRL refers to the active, cyclical process of intentionally directing one's metacognition, motivation, and behavior to achieve a learning goal. Findings from the extant research on gamification and GBLEs conducted in postsecondary settings are reported with connections to SRL processes throughout. Furthermore, we review the effects of games on varied learning, motivation, and SRL outcomes. Finally, we conclude with recommendations for future research and practice, with a primary suggestion of more explicitly addressing SRL in research related to gamification and game‐based learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a questionnaire-based study conducted at the "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacău, Romania. The study aimed at identifying students' perception of the impact of educational games on their social emotional skills. The objectives of the study are: O1. to highlight the connection between game-based learning and social emotional learning skills; O2. to identify students' perceptions of the effects of learning games on their social-emotional learning skills in the context of online education; O3. to systematise the main arguments for using learning games to build social-emotional learning skills. A questionnaire consisting of a series of closed questions answered by 200 students from different study programmes was used for data collection. The results obtained made it possible to determine both students' perceptions of the impact of educational games on their professional and personal development and to formulate suggestions for the use of games to build social-emotional learning skills in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feedback is a critical aspect of optimised learning design, but there are few, if any, feedback models that map different types of feedback and how they may assist students to increase performance and enhance their learning experience. This research paper outlines a feedback model as an extension of the four-dimensional framework which includes a consideration of the type, the content, the format, and the frequency of feedback, as well as the agent which delivers it. This model is based upon an understanding of learning in the context of designing learning experiences and utilises a game-based model of learning to understand the importance of motivation and autonomy in learners to enhance and accelerate learning. The framework is developed and reflected upon by analysing two cases: a medical triage case in which the timing and frequency of feedback proved critical, and a business simulation which illuminated the need for a range of types of feedback and to be aware of the possibility of different agents (instructor peer and game) that can deliver feedback. The extended model may help game and learning designers alike to discern different types of feedback, both in games and more generally, in more explicit and nuanced ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contribution: This article compares the effectiveness for online software engineering education of video-based learning and game-based learning using teacher-authored educational video games created by using authoring tools. Background: Although substantial research has evaluated the impact of video-based and game-based learning versus traditional teaching approaches, little research has been done comparing the effectiveness of video-based learning and video game-based learning. Furthermore, the few studies that performed this comparison did not compare the effectiveness for online education or examined teacher-authored video games. Research Questions: Is game-based learning using teacher-authored video games more effective than video-based learning in terms of knowledge acquisition for software engineering students in online settings? Is game-based learning using teacher-authored video games more effective than video-based learning in terms of motivation for software engineering students in online settings? Methodology: A quasi-experimental design with control and experimental groups and pre- and post-tests was employed. A total of 180 software engineering students participated in this study, 81 of which belonged to the control group while the other 99 were part of the experimental group. The students in the control group took an online lesson in which they learned exclusively by watching videos, whereas the students in the experimental group took the same lesson but learned exclusively by playing an educational video game created by a teacher through an authoring tool. Findings: The results show that game-based learning using teacher-authored educational video games was more effective than video-based learning in terms of both knowledge acquisition and motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contributions: This article presents a large-scale study which investigates students’ reaction to game-based learning as part of programming courses. The study focuses on knowledge acquisition, learner experience, and game usability. Background: Despite the rapid growth of the information and communication technologies (ICTs) sector, the lack of engagement with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects and high dropout rates in computer science and engineering majors is linked directly to the large number of unfilled vacancies in the ICT employment market. To tackle one of the underlying causes for this crisis, (i.e., traditional teaching paradigms struggle to attract students to rather abstract and difficult STEM subjects such as programming), innovative technology-enhanced learning solutions are sought. Intended Outcomes: A set of serious games were proposed and designed to promote students’ understanding of programming concepts, improve their confidence, stimulate their interest in STEM and increase engagement with the courses through vivid and appealing scenarios. Application Design: Targeting undergraduate and postgraduate students, the games focused on several key programming topics. They were designed to visualize the programming concepts in illustrative and entertaining scenarios. A comprehensive assessment methodology which includes surveys, observations, and interviews was employed to investigate the impact of the games. Findings: The results show that by using the games in the teaching and learning process all the students have benefited, although differently based on their location, educational backgrounds, and game played. The impact of detailed demographic aspects, such as participants’ use of technology, their initial attitude toward school, and learning STEM on the results needs further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the first two decades of the new millennium, interactive digital games have found in the educational field a context of significant application. The purpose of this article is to systematize and analyze the scientific literature that studies the mechanics, implications, and effects of two categories of videogames: games primarily designed for entertainment and commercialization (commercial off-the-shelf games) and serious games in the context of learning and development of specific skills. We developed a synthesis of the unintentional educational character of the former and the factors that make them so attractive, so that these characteristics may in the future be considered in the process of developing games with educational intent. The present systematic review of scientific literature synthesizes the state of the art of knowledge in the fields of Education and Computer Science (2017-2021). Empirical evidence revealing the potential of gamification of learning environments is presented. Results that add value to this debate are also described and discussed, allowing the identification of limitations in this research and suggestions for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing game's popularity is caused by their possibilities in decision-making training. Management games allow avoiding potential mistakes related to the business choices, but they require several updates and improvements in terms of context and new trends. The business environment is constantly changing and requires new creative approaches to be trained. One of them is the business greening and realizing the idea of sustainable behavior and engagement in managerial games. This paper aims to propose managerial game improvements to achieve better game engagement and become more interesting for students because of its real business world connection. The object of the research and analysis is the Marketplace®, which is the educational managerial game. In this paper, the game analysis three levels were presented to propose the recommendations for the Marketplace game development. The main finding is that an assessment survey should occur in the game climax, to engage and immerse students in the game. The survey questions should also be reexamined to develop a more dynamic game analysis. Then the game itself has to consist of sustainable development of practical solutions and enable students' creativity to raise their engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ubiquity of smartphone and tablet devices, combined with the increasing availability of serious games, has enabled students to learn various abstract concepts in an appealing and convenient manner. While several researchers have explored the use of Augmented Reality (AR) in serious games, many of these games have not been critically explained or evaluated. To that end, we employed game-based learning methodologies and Game Learning Analytics (GLA) to systematize the design and evaluation of an AR-based serious game to teach programming. We evaluated our game for usability and effectiveness by conducting a user study on twenty-seven undergraduate students. The evaluation primarily consisted of a learning test conducted twice – before and after playing the game – along with a usability questionnaire that players completed after playing the game. Our results showed that players made significant progress after playing the game. The game helped players improve their basic programming skills, especially for the group having lower prior programming skills. The results highlighted various ways in which GLA can be used to benefit different stakeholders in the game. Based on players' qualitative responses, we also identified several areas of improvement, most prominently the trade-off between ease of use and game complexity. We provide suggestions and discuss implications for future work. • Design and evaluation procedures for an Augmented Reality-based serious game to teach programming are presented. • An empirical study with twenty-seven undergraduate students is conducted. • Students with lesser prior programming skills show significant improvement after playing the game. • A Game Learning Analytics framework is incorporated in the game for various stakeholder benefits. • Suggestions and implications for future work are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in serious games (SGs), i.e., digital games for education and training. However, although the potential scalability of SGs to large player populations is often praised in the literature, available SG evaluations did not provide evidence of it because they did not study learning on large, varied, international samples in naturalistic conditions. This article considers a SG that educates players about aircraft cabin safety. It presents the first study of learning in a SG intervention conducted in naturalistic conditions with a very large, worldwide sample, which includes 45,000 players who accepted to answer a knowledge questionnaire before and after playing the game, and more than 400,000 players whose in-game behavior was analyzed. Results show that the SG led to improvement in players’ knowledge, assessed with different metrics. Moreover, analysis of repeated play shows that participants improved their in-game safety behavior over time. We also focus on the role of making errors in the game, showing how they led to improvement in knowledge. Finally, we highlight the theoretical models, such as error-based learning and Protection Motivation Theory, that oriented the game design, and can be reused to create SGs for other domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to show how the Logic of Game Theory can facilitate the structuring of games for the learning of mathematical concepts, in a way which is cognitively resonant with students' attitudes and epistemologically sound from the mathematical standpoint. We propose a kind of game, based on an inquiry approach to mathematics, called Digital Inquiry Game (DIG), the aim of which is to foster students' positive beliefs about their mathematical capabilities with regards to problem solving and to improve the way students are able to grasp the epistemic aspects of the mathematical knowledge in question. The main issues surrounding the theoretical background and the inspiring key constructs of the DIG are explained. The design of a DIG is validated through a case study concerning some properties of integers and a general divisibility criterion. Finally, some issues for further researches are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gamification is a paradigm and process innovation premised on applying game mechanics to non-game settings with benefits of creative games designs and disruptive effects challenging conventional learning approaches. The purpose of this study is to review the literature on gamification-as-innovation. Applying the systematic review methodology, this study examines 96 articles and identifies developments in gamification-as-innovation in literature. Insights from the review suggests three main perspectives on gamification-as innovation in processes that reveal problems (investigation), stimulate novel behavior (induction) or transform processes (intervention) for improved effectiveness and engagement. The review also captures the state-of-the-art in gamification research underscoring advances in multi-level models, strategic initiatives and digital platforms. The review concludes by highlighting future research directions that advance gamification scholarship and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper responds to a 2016 systematic literature review of the research on learning games by Ke (Educ Technol Res Dev 64(2):219–244, 2016). The review paper unpacked the idea of intrinsic integration in learning games, analyzing important emergent themes. The key ideas and the value of this review are discussed in the context of the recent shift to virtual instruction. The limitations, impact, and future implications are also described, with the perspective of this response focused on education theory. Intrinsic integration is an important consideration when designers create the next generation of digital games, and as researchers try to untangle the affordances of different educational games for student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is in response to the article titled "Designing and integrating purposeful learning in game play: a systematic review" by Ke (Educ Technol Res Dev 64:219–244, 2016) focusing on research, evaluation, and design. In her article, Ke's synthesized five major themes related to the design of learning games in published academic research. These are then offered as guideposts for future research-based learning game design. However, to be more responsive to the immediate needs of educators, I contend that we should be able to speak to commercial learning games as well. My proposal is that we use Ke's work as a starting point for commercial learning game evaluation, and more broadly, expand our research and design so that we can speak more thoughtfully about commercial games and the variety of ways they could be integrated into learning experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building on game design and education research, this paper introduces narrative-focused role-playing games as a way to promote visualization literacy in young children. Visualization literacy skills are vital in understanding the world around us and constructing meaningful visualizations, yet, how to better develop these skills at an early age remains largely overlooked and understudied. Only recently has the visualization community started to fill this gap, resulting in preliminary studies and development of educational tools for use in early education. We add to these efforts through the exploration of gamification to support learning, and identify an opportunity to apply role-playing game-based designs by leveraging the presence of narratives in data-related problems involving visualizations. We study the effects of including narrative elements on learning through a technology probe, grounded in a set of design considerations stemming from visualization, game design and education science. We create two versions of a game - one with narrative elements and one without - and evaluate our instances on 33 child participants between 11- to 13-years old using a between-subjects study design. Despite participants requiring double the amount of time to complete their game due to additional narrative elements, the inclusion of such elements were found to improve engagement without sacrificing learning; our results indicate no significant differences in development of graph-reading skills, but significant differences in engagement and overall enjoyment of the game. We report observations and qualitative feedback collected, and note areas for improvement and room for future work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard video games are applications whose development process often follows a traditional software methodology. Serious Games (SGs) are a tool with an immensely positive impact and great success. SGs enable learning and provide entertainment and self-empowerment, which motivates students. The development of an SG consists of complex processes requiring multi-disciplinary knowledge in multiple domains, including knowing the learning domain and adding the appropriate game mechanics to foster high intrinsic motivation and positive player experience that makes the players feel like they are having fun while learning. Otherwise, the game is viewed as boring and not as a fun and engaging activity. Nevertheless, despite their potential, the application of SGs in education has been limited in terms of pedagogy. Several authors assert that this lack is because SG standards and guidelines have not been developed. There is an imbalance between experts' contributions to education and game design specialists for the SG development. Not all the SGs that have been developed have applied appropriate design methodologies that incorporate both the entertainment mechanics and the serious component. To ensure that an SG meets the user's expectations, it must be designed using an appropriate method. This work aims to present iPlus, a methodology for designing SGs based on a participatory, flexible, and user-centered approach. Additionally, this paper analyses several case studies with the iPlus methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years we have observed a growing interest in the use of gamification approaches for climate change education. While most practices are related to digital gaming, there is a new trend which is still academically unexplored: escape rooms. The main objective of this paper is to serve as an initial exploratory study in this field by identifying and analysing climate change-related escape rooms. For that purpose we carried out a web search and a qualitative content analysis. A total of 17 initiatives are described and compared, unravelling their main audience, country of origin, topics, scenarios and objectives covered. The paper also highlights what escape rooms can offer to climate change education: experiential and immersive learning, problem solving and critical thinking skills, and a sense of collaboration and urgency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our online programming language courses have been developed for youngsters who are interested in computer programming. The courses were gamified with some common gamification elements: points, badges, incentives, immediate feedback and leaderboard. The developed Learning Management System (LMS) for our learning portal provides the chance to monitor all users' activities. After examining our registered users' progress in the courses, we tried to increase the effectiveness of the courses (C+, C# and Java) with developing educational game programs that cannot only foster motivation during the playing process but provide faster understanding, since students play with what they need to learn and understand. We compared the performance of the last 200 students who registered and completed the last chapter in the curriculum before the game programs had been added into the Java course, and the first 200 students, who registered and completed the last chapter in the curriculum, after the addition of the games in the supported coding tasks. The results were impressive and proved that with our thematic didactic game programs, users were able to solve coding tasks more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article addresses the problem of using games and competitions to transform traditional teacher-centered English for Specific Purposes (ESP) class into student-centered. The basic features of games are distinguished: following rules, getting immediate feedback and achieving a goal. Gamification is defined as a process of using games in education aimed at bringing democracy into educational environment and achieving better learning results by motivating students. The characteristics of teacher-centered and student-centered models are discussed in the article. Detailed descriptions of games and competitions are provided, the guidelines of introducing gamification in an ESP class are outlined. The author comes to the conclusion that gamification of education, aiming at achieving better learning results and employability of graduates, is effective if properly applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational games are now seen as effective learning tools. However, there is a gap in the literature regarding the core dimensions of Game-based learning (GBL) for comprehensive design, analysis, and evaluation due to inconsistent use of elements. The literature on GBL reports an extensive diversity of elements used for the design and evaluation of GBL without any categorization of micro and macro-level elements. Hardly any studies systematically decompose these aspects to derivate factors/sub-factors, obstructing identification of any clear pattern. The problem is not the scarcity of GBL research but inconsistency in terminology, scope, definition, and usage of elements leading to the absence of a holistic view of GBL for effective design and evaluation. This study bridges the gap by outlining terminology and scope with four conceptual levels and then systematically categorizing GBL elements by scope, definition, and usage. The methodology used is directed content analysis of GBL literature collected through a previous systematic literature review. Dimensionalization of GBL and further decomposition into factor/sub-factors based on theoretical constructs, has resulted in a consistent and clear pattern delineating the structure of the educational game design, analysis, and evaluation. Further codifying metrics and mapping the relationship among GBL dimensions deduce into a conceptual framework (called LEAGUÊ) that facilitates greater insight into the process of learning with educational games, where to focus and what to evaluate. The LEAGUÊ framework can be applied for the analysis, design and evaluation of learning games. The framework is put in practice by utilizing the framework components (dimensions, factors/sub-factors and relations) to develop three items: 1) an analysis instrument, 2)a card-based ideation and design toolkit, and 3) an evaluation guide that can assist educational game designers, researchers, educators and evaluators for the analysis, design and evaluation of learning games respectively. This paper exemplifies the application of framework for the analysis of learning games using the analysis instrument (developed using LEAGUÊ framework) with one case study as an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Learning (also known as m-learning) and game-based learning (GBL) are two important elements in Technology-Enhanced Learning. By using mobile technology and benefiting from their features we can provide a pervasive learning without being restricted by time and space (Learning anywhere and anytime). GBL over the last decade has played an important role in increasing the motivation of the learner player through the integration of gamification into the learner's learning process. The combination of the two elements gave birth to a new concept of educational system called Ubiquitous Learning Game (ULG). Mobile technologies are very diverse and market demands push the continued development of new technologies and features that present a big challenge in time and development costs. On the other hand creating a nice game for different player profiles requires the addition of the learner's model in the design phase of the game. In this sense the main aim of this paper is to present the new architecture of the educational adventure games authoring tool and its implementation by addressing the different challenges already cited in order to generate an adaptive ULG for multiples mobile platforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of literature suggests that adding game elements to learning tasks indirectly influences the learning process by increasing engagement with the tasks. The present study aims to advance learning engagement research by examining an often neglected subcomponent of behavioral engagement, attrition. Implementing two equivalent versions of a learning task, differing solely in the presence of game elements, allowed unequivocal attribution of any effect on the presence of game elements. Conducting the study in an online learning environment allowed further a highly unconstrained examination of the effects of game elements on attrition. We found that game elements affected both participant attrition and engagement of participants who completed the learning task. Participants with low self-efficacy were particularly prone to drop out in the non-game condition. Game elements also affected both learning efficacy and efficiency. We further found task attractivity to partially mediate the effect of game elements on learning outcomes. The results suggest that by facilitating engagement via task attractivity game elements can compensate to some extent for the increased cognitive demand that the game elements induce. We finally discuss the importance of considering the interrelations between learner characteristics, game elements, and engagement for interpreting results on learning performance measures. • Relations between game elements, engagement, and learning outcomes are examined • Use of game elements mitigates participant dropout early in an online learning task • Learning outcomes are affected by game elements indirectly via task engagement • Participants with lower self-efficacy may benefit more from game elements • Performance gain mediated by task attractivity balances cognitive cost [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classroom gamification uses game-like elements to engage and motivate students, improving their overall experience in the course (Deterding, Sicart, Nacke, O'Hara, & Dixon, 2011). Research suggests students benefit from gamification across social, emotional, and cognitive domains (Granic, Lobel, & Engels, 2014). This paper explores gamification at two levels. First, smaller games which are useful for introducing and reviewing relevant concepts that can be completed within a single class. Second, larger games which provide a fully immersive and engrossing gaming experience which take place over an entire course. The authors provide concrete examples across the gaming spectrum, and offer research based advice for instructors considering introducing gamification to their courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different forms of computer games are widely used in the education field. Designing appropriate games can increase the acceptance of learning content by the learner. This study presents a definition of games, computer games, and the games that are employed within education. The definition of edutainment, educational games, game-based learning, and gamification are presented. The role of serious games for learning are clearly described. The differences between game-based learning and gamification are formulated. Researchers will find these findings helpful to distinguish game-based learning and gamification and to determine suitable designs for delivering learning content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While empirical literature on digital games for learning is already growing fast, the quick transition to digital is anticipated to further accelerate educators' interest in using digital games for learning. In the "shifting to digital" era caused by the pandemic, digital learning games seem to be a relevant topic for discussion and inquiry. To be more responsive to the immediate needs of the educators, Lee extends the discussion of learning games published in academic research (as in Ke [3]) to include commercial learning games. [Extracted from the article]

The “gamification” of science has gained a lot of traction in recent years, and games that convey scientific concepts or themes are increasingly popular. While a number of existing games touch on microbiology, very few consider the beneficial (as opposed to the detrimental) aspects of microbes. We designed a board game called “Gut Check: The Microbiome Game” to fill this gap. The game is meant to be both educational as well as challenging and fun. Here we discuss the development of the game, some of the logistics of game development in this context, and offer suggestions for others thinking of similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Many students may not respond strongly to instruction that they do not perceive as engaging. One pedagogical approach to help engage students involves the use of games. Educational games can provide students with a motivating and stimulating environment while providing them with immediate feedback to promote learning. Purpose This systematic review examines research focused on the implementation of games to teach undergraduate engineering students; it summarizes prevailing features and cites examples from a variety of engineering disciplines. Scope/Method The systematic review was conducted through a detailed search of Science Direct journals and the Scopus, Web of Science, Compendex/Inspec, and ERIC Education Research Abstract databases using terms pertinent to games in engineering education. A total of 191 papers was included after application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. After screening those to determine if assessment of student learning outcomes was performed, 62 papers were found suitable for more detailed analysis. Conclusions Research on the implementation of games in undergraduate engineering classrooms has shown that, despite diverse forms of assessment applied, there is a general trend that both student learning and attitudes are improved by game-based activities. However, since only a relatively small subset of the literature demonstrates a systematic, validated approach in assessment, significant opportunities remain for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief review provides insights into the recent advances made by the Unity game engine into education and the ways that learning resources can be used to teach novice bioscience students to use the VR/AR affordances of the platform. We present our own practises for implementation of a novel gamification task for final‐year bioscience students and reflect on the changes we have had to make in order to overcome challenges presented by the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of the conducted analysis of course books it can be concluded that games are in fact absent therein. In the broad spectrum of the methods that stimulate the intellect and the emotions the authors have chosen not to include this method. Games, however, relate to the primordial instincts, to competition, to the will to achieve a goal, which makes education more instinctive and, at the same time, more interesting. Human rights education leads to the challenging of stereotypes, it makes students confront the otherness that has a number of aspects: culture, race, religion, belonging, worldviews, etc. In the education in this area it is not enough to concentrate on knowledge acquisition. Undoubtedly the course books proposed by the authors relate to the emotional aspect and they do it on a high, professional level. Nevertheless, the introduction of games into human rights education could produce positive effects in the internalization of new values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]