Gamification in Education: A Study of Design-Based Learning in Operationalizing a Game Studio for Serious Games

Abstract

The gamification of learning has proven educational benefits, especially in secondary education. Studies confirm the successful engagement of students with improved time on task, motivation and learning outcomes. At the same time, there remains little research on games and learning at the postsecondary level of education where traditional pedagogies remain the norm. Studies that have been conducted remain almost exclusively restricted to science programs, including medicine and engineering. Moreover, postsecondary subject-matter experts who have created their own gamified experiences often are forced to do so on an ad hoc basis either on their own, teaching themselves game engines, or with irregular support from experts in the field. But to ensure a well-designed, developed, and high-quality educational experience that leads to desired outcomes for a field, a sustainable infrastructure needs to be developed in institutions that have (or can partner with) others that have an established game design program. Moreover, such a design-based learning approach can be embedded within an existing studio model to help educate participants while producing an educational product. As such, this qualitative case study provides an example of the process of operationalizing a game design studio from pre-production through post-production, drawing from the design and development of the educational video game The Museum of the Lost VR (2022). The results, resources, and classification system presented are scalable and provide models for different sized institutions. Methods to develop a sustainable infrastructure are presented to ensure interdisciplinary partnerships across departments and institutions with game design programs to collaborate and create educational experiences that optimize user experience and learning outcomes.

Gamification of 2D and 3D Animation Subjects to Improve Learning Outcomes

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BRIX: A Gamified Application-Based Platform in German Language Learning for Beginners

“…Furthermore, this approach can be employed to capture students' interests and inspire them to actively participate in the learning process (Jusuf, 2016). Similar to games that allow players to retry and correct their mistakes, reducing the fear of failure and increasing their engagement in the game, gamification operates in a manner that makes technology more appealing (Hutson et al, 2022). This encourages users to engage in desired behaviors, provides guidance for achievement and autonomy, assists in problem-solving without becoming an impediment, and capitalizes on human psychological tendencies to engage in games (Deterding et al, 2011a).…”

Educational Video Games as Tools for Raising Awareness of the Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage

“…At the same time, however, this also predetermines the narrower specialization of the game for a particular group of users for whom the game is intended. It is important to note that educational video games are used in various fields of education, such as history, mathematics, architecture, arts, and more (Hutson, Fulcher, & Weber, 2022). These games are created and applied in the relevant areas to educate learners in these specialties.…”