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The instructional effects of customization features in child learning games have rarely been examined. This value-added study addresses the existing gap with regards to user-initiated cosmetic customization of environment elements (i.e., non-avatar customization). Participants (N = 143; M[subscript age] = 9.41) studied a biological topic for about 20 min: either using the experimental version of a learning game with customization features, or from a control version without them. Null results were found as concerns between-group differences: both for motivation-related variables and learning outcome measures. These findings indicate that user-initiated cosmetic customization features can be omitted by game designers, especially in settings where children are assigned specific instructional materials from which to study.

The present study investigates affective-motivational, attention, and learning effects of unexplored emotional design manipulation: "Contextual animation" (animation of contextual elements) in multimedia learning game (MLGs) for children. Participants (N = 134; M[subscript age] = 9.25; Grades 3 and 4) learned either from an experimental version of the MLG with a high amount of contextual animation or from an identical MLG with no contextual animation (control). Children strongly preferred (X[superscript 2] = 87.04, p < 0.001) and found the experimental version more attractive (p < 0.001, d = -1.11). No significant differences in overall enjoyment and learning outcomes were found. Attention differences, measured by dwell times and fixation durations, were small and reached only borderline significance (p = 0.035; d = -0.39). The implication is that contextual animation in MLG for children increases such instructional materials' attractiveness without compromising cognitive processes needed for learning; however, it does not lead to their higher instructional efficiency.

We explored whether problem-solving interactivity within an instructional game fosters learning for children aged 8-10 years. Participants (N=139) studied a biological topic either through a game-based learning environment (in which they solved assigned problems by interacting with a plant model) or from a standard learning environment (in which they observed how the problems were solved in an animation) (i.e., between-subject design). The treatments were equal with regard to learning content and guidance. No between-group differences in learning outcomes were detected (comprehension: d=0.16; transfer: d=-0.01). Self-rating of enjoyment tended to be higher in the game group (d=0.32), and when the children could choose between the treatments in a free-choice period, they strongly preferred the interactive game (87.5%). The results suggest that both the interactive and the non-interactive treatments are useful, but their applicability may differ depending on the learning context (e.g., school vs. home).

There are insufficientsuitable methodsfor assessing pupils’ social competence in the Czech Republic. The study aims to verify the psychometric properties of the instrument called The Walker-McConnell Scale of Social Competence and School Adjustment and initiate the process of adapting it to the Czech environment. The instrument is intended for teachers (or other teaching staff) who record their observations of the frequency of pupils’ given manifestations of social behaviour. The scale was answered by 15 class teachers and 15 teaching assistants who completed it for 307 pupils attending grades 1 to 5 from 15 different classes, with one class teacher and one teaching assistant from each class. Inter-rater agreement and confirmatory factor analysis were computed, revealing a low fit of the original instrument to the data. For that reason, the original version was modified, and a reduced version of the scale was created while preserving the original subscales. A limitation of the study is the fact that the full validation of the instrument was not conducted. The subsequent step in the validation process is verifying the instrument’s validity by another diagnostic method. The instrument is intended for use in school counselling practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this empirical study was to investigate the practice of teaching assistants in supporting the social inclusion of pupils with ASD attending mainstream schools. Moreover, the study focused on the question of teaching assistants’ job readiness and the adequacy of the methodological guidance provided to them by professionals. In-depth interviews were conducted between March and July 2021 with ten teaching assistants from different schools located in the Czech Republic. Thematic analysis was performed on the basis of the data obtained from the interviews. The findings of the study suggest that teaching assistants play a crucial role in the social inclusion of pupils with ASD attending mainstream schools. The study indicates that practical knowledge and training courses are considered to be the main source of knowledge according to the teaching assistants, whereas vocational training is seen as a secondary source of information. Additionally, teaching assistants find the methodological guidance beneficial and functional. Expanding educational opportunities for teaching assistants focused on specific techniques and practices for the social inclusion of pupils with ASD attending mainstream schools seems to be a useful future direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates affective‐motivational, attention, and learning effects of unexplored emotional design manipulation: Contextual animation (animation of contextual elements) in multimedia learning game (MLGs) for children. Participants (N = 134; Mage = 9.25; Grades 3 and 4) learned either from an experimental version of the MLG with a high amount of contextual animation or from an identical MLG with no contextual animation (control). Children strongly preferred (χ2 = 87.04, p <.001) and found the experimental version more attractive (p <.001, d = −1.11). No significant differences in overall enjoyment and learning outcomes were found. Attention differences, measured by dwell times and fixation durations, were small and reached only borderline significance (p =.035; d = −0.39). The implication is that contextual animation in MLG for children increases such instructional materials' attractiveness without compromising cognitive processes needed for learning; however, it does not lead to their higher instructional efficiency. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic: Contextual animation is frequently used in multimedia learning games (MLGs) for children.Contextual animation is understood to be non‐expository picture motion, which can be added to already existing representational pictures that provide context for target instruction.It is not known whether or not contextual animation, which embellishes already existing representational contextual pictures, harms learning for children in the case of MLGs. What this paper adds: Children (Grades 3 and 4) strongly prefer the game with added contextual animation compared to the game without it.No between‐group differences in overall learning enjoyment and learning outcomes were found.Small attention‐allocation effects of borderline significance were detected. Implications for practice Adding contextual animation (i.e., added non‐expository picture motion) to multimedia learning games for children will increase the attractiveness of the materials and will not hamper learning. Investment into the production of costly contextual animation may be worthwhile in the case of instructional games intended for uncontrolled settings (e.g., at home or during leisure time). In formal contexts (e.g., school), it is less clear whether investment into contextual animation is needed, since children are extraneously motivated to learn and animation does not appear to enhance learning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]