Combining Game-Flow and Learning Objectives in Educational Games.

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Title: Combining Game-Flow and Learning Objectives in Educational Games.
Authors: Shabalina, Olga1 o.a.shabalina@gmail.com, Mozelius, Peter2 mozelius@dsv.su, Malliarakis, Christos3 malliarakis@gmail.com, Tomos, Florica4 floricatomos@southwales.ac.uk, Balan, Oana Cristina, Blackey, Haydn4, Gerkushenko, Georiy1 mail@gerkushenko.ru
Source: Proceedings of the European Conference on Games Based Learning. 2014, Vol. 2, p529-537. 9p.
Subject Terms: *Educational games, *Learning goals, *Flow theory (Psychology), *Group work in education, Video game development, Reversal theory (Psychology)
Abstract: Games-based learning is a young discipline and there is no consensus on how learning objectives should be integrated into learning games. Utilisation of the educational content in digital games is an increasing trend that sometimes has been described as a mad rush where sound educational principles often are absent. A design of educational games with a careless mix of game mechanics and learning content could also result in so called "Shavian reversals", an outcome where the offspring inherits the worst characteristics of both parents. What guidelines are important in a learning model, for a successful combination of engaging game stories and appropriate learning content? Designing educational games should include all the stages of the software design process. Also, there are specific problems in the design of educational games that need to be addressed. These are related to the integration of learning content and game mechanics in games, and the technologies required for its implementation. The paper will take a dual perspective on flow and cooperative learning theories. When embedding the learning principles within the design of the digital games, the process has to consider the role of knowledge, meaning and reflective learning process. It will also suggest guidance from those supporting the learning. Also, the way that the mechanics are implemented in an educational game, are measured using specified metrics and a novel technique called learning analytics. The paper discusses modern approaches of educational game design and their effectiveness in keeping the game both educational and engaging. It also proposes specific ways that evaluation metrics are used in game analytics and how they can provide feedback to check if the educational objectives are achieved. Furthermore, new ideas are suggested on how to combine game-flow and learning objectives in educational games, with a result that would not lead to the Shavian reversal effect, but instead will keep the game both educational and engaging. A combined script model is presented in which each learning objective is interpreted as a game objective and a game process. The model is structured as a sequence of activities combining learning objectives and game actions. Furthermore, there is an exemplification of how the suggested script model might be implemented in role-playing and casual games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Proceedings of the European Conference on Games Based Learning is the property of Academic Conferences & Publishing International Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Combining Game-Flow and Learning Objectives in Educational Games.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Shabalina%2C+Olga%22">Shabalina, Olga</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> o.a.shabalina@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mozelius%2C+Peter%22">Mozelius, Peter</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> mozelius@dsv.su</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Malliarakis%2C+Christos%22">Malliarakis, Christos</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> malliarakis@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tomos%2C+Florica%22">Tomos, Florica</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><i> floricatomos@southwales.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Balan%2C+Oana+Cristina%22">Balan, Oana Cristina</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Blackey%2C+Haydn%22">Blackey, Haydn</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gerkushenko%2C+Georiy%22">Gerkushenko, Georiy</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> mail@gerkushenko.ru</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Proceedings+of+the+European+Conference+on+Games+Based+Learning%22">Proceedings of the European Conference on Games Based Learning</searchLink>. 2014, Vol. 2, p529-537. 9p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+games%22">Educational games</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+goals%22">Learning goals</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Flow+theory+%28Psychology%29%22">Flow theory (Psychology)</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Group+work+in+education%22">Group work in education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Video+game+development%22">Video game development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reversal+theory+%28Psychology%29%22">Reversal theory (Psychology)</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Games-based learning is a young discipline and there is no consensus on how learning objectives should be integrated into learning games. Utilisation of the educational content in digital games is an increasing trend that sometimes has been described as a mad rush where sound educational principles often are absent. A design of educational games with a careless mix of game mechanics and learning content could also result in so called "Shavian reversals", an outcome where the offspring inherits the worst characteristics of both parents. What guidelines are important in a learning model, for a successful combination of engaging game stories and appropriate learning content? Designing educational games should include all the stages of the software design process. Also, there are specific problems in the design of educational games that need to be addressed. These are related to the integration of learning content and game mechanics in games, and the technologies required for its implementation. The paper will take a dual perspective on flow and cooperative learning theories. When embedding the learning principles within the design of the digital games, the process has to consider the role of knowledge, meaning and reflective learning process. It will also suggest guidance from those supporting the learning. Also, the way that the mechanics are implemented in an educational game, are measured using specified metrics and a novel technique called learning analytics. The paper discusses modern approaches of educational game design and their effectiveness in keeping the game both educational and engaging. It also proposes specific ways that evaluation metrics are used in game analytics and how they can provide feedback to check if the educational objectives are achieved. Furthermore, new ideas are suggested on how to combine game-flow and learning objectives in educational games, with a result that would not lead to the Shavian reversal effect, but instead will keep the game both educational and engaging. A combined script model is presented in which each learning objective is interpreted as a game objective and a game process. The model is structured as a sequence of activities combining learning objectives and game actions. Furthermore, there is an exemplification of how the suggested script model might be implemented in role-playing and casual games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Proceedings of the European Conference on Games Based Learning is the property of Academic Conferences & Publishing International Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 9
        StartPage: 529
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learning goals
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Flow theory (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Group work in education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Video game development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reversal theory (Psychology)
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Combining Game-Flow and Learning Objectives in Educational Games.
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            NameFull: Shabalina, Olga
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            NameFull: Mozelius, Peter
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            NameFull: Malliarakis, Christos
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            NameFull: Tomos, Florica
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: 2014
              Type: published
              Y: 2014
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            – TitleFull: Proceedings of the European Conference on Games Based Learning
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