1 1

Beyond Edutainment: Exploring the Educational Potential of Computer Games

PhD student Simon Egenfeldt-NielsenIT-University Copenhagen

27th May 2005

“…develop games which contain advanced content, operate according to sound pedagogical principles, enable classroom customisation, and create real excitement within the core game market”

- Henry Jenkins

"I have never seen a good educational game. It's crap for 30 years."

- Brenda Laurel

2 2Agenda

1. The mission

2. The field

3. The empirical study

4. A theory

5. Future challenges

3 3The problem statement

The problem this dissertation overall solves is the fragmented nature of the research field educational field. This implies building a framework for the research field educational use of computer games extending from the following key elements: experience-based, engagement, educational quality, safe environment, student autonomy and emotional investment

Exploring alternatives to the current thinking manifested in edutainment titles

4 4Main elements

• Before educational computer games

• The history of educational computer games

• Research overview

• Educational theory (Kolb, Dewey, Vygotsky)

• Charateristics of computer games

• Empirical study of Europa Universalis II

• Overall theory of educational use of computer games

5 5Agenda

1. The mission

2. The field

3. The empirical study

4. A theory

5. Future challenges

6 6Early years of educational gamesMilitary and business long traditon for educational use of games with formal use reaching back to 19th century.

Simulation & Games a strong research tradition dating back to 1950s: Relies on experiential learning, conscious of barriers, efficiency, and assesment problems.

Educational media influences in direction of edutainment with motivation becoming most important. Problems today shared with educational media since start of 20th century: Low culture, short-sighted products, technical problems, copyright issues, subsidies and balance between commercial industry and educators.

The 1980s see more experimental titles especally Oregeon Trail, Rocky Boots and Lemonade Stand that are not as such edutainment. Up through the late 1980s edutainment kicks in, and in 1990s they are ruling the waves.

7 7What is edutainment

Little intrinsic motivation: Edutainment relies more on extrinsic motivation through rewards, rather than intrinsic motivation.

No integrated learning experience: Edutainment lacks integration of the learning experience with playing experience, which leads to the learning becoming subordinated the stronger play experience.

No teacher presence: Edutainment never makes any demands on teachers or parents.

Drill-and-practice learning principles: Learning principles in edutainment rely on drill-and-practice rather than understanding – training above learning.

Simple gameplay: Most edutainment titles are built on a simple gameplay often from classic arcade titles or a simple adventure game.

Small budgets: Edutainment titles are often produced on relatively limited budgets with less than state-of-the-art technology.

8 8Edutainment crisis

US edutainment revenue

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1999 2000 2001 2002

Year

Mio

$

9 9Research on educational games

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

Instructional technology

Math games

Adventure games

Edutainment

Health-related games

Cognitive skills

Constructionism

Research in different areas focusing on educational use of computer games

Media education

Socio-cultural approach

1010Agenda

1. The mission

2. The field

3. The empirical study

4. A theory

5. Future challenges

1111The research set-up

Purpose1. Can computer games play a part in fulfilling the purpose of history

teaching in secondary school (age 15-19 years). Can computer games work within the current educational setting, the existing teaching practice, and the existing understanding of learning.

2. Examine the characteristics of educational use of computer games in general. The findings especially address issues related to strategy and simulations. The results also have a stronger relevance for social studies than other subjects.

Sample 72 Students, 15-19 years old, both genders Middle/upper-class, sub-urbanComputer literate

Qualitative and quantitative methods A variety of method problems i.e. sampling, incomplete data,

researcher role.

1212Overview of study

Background survey

Factual post-test

Factual Retention-test

Course Start Course finish Five months after course finished

Evaluation survey

Observations/logbooks

Teacher interviews

Student interviews

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Interesting because: Historical universe, complex model, relevant problems

The Game

1414The Course

Introduction: Denmark a small manageable country to learn game

Follow up: Follow up on technical problem/installing game at home

Scenario 1: Play Denmark with an aggressive approach.

Scenario 2: Play England/France/Spain with a careful approach

Scenario 3: Play England/France/Spain with a balanced approach

Scenario 4: Play a country of your own choice with any strategy

Playing the computer game and parallel with this jotting

down.

Reflecting and discussing the game experiences in

groups Teacher talk on related topic based on the

history text book.

(last step is where history teaching is still 95% of the time)

1515Findings: Different GroupsGender, academic ability, attitude, history knowledge, and game

knowledge.

Give up: This group within the first two weeks gave up on the game, and hence the course – in general few resources. Some didn’t see the relevance of this course due to the nature of computer games. Critique of the game was also a defense of their own position in history.

Upwardly mobile: Mostly boys that knew and liked games but rarely excelled in school. Liked history in general but less likening for history in school. Lacked the historical background information and academic ability to engage with the game from a historical perspective.

Runners-up: Were able to learn the game through a lot of work. Positive towards the game but never really got beyond seeing it lacking in facts. They never had the energy to engage with it more reflectively.

High achievers: Generally boys that knew games, liked history, and had surplus of energy in school. Able to approach the game from an abstract perspective not limiting themselves to the game’s facts/diversions from history.

1616Findings: Practical barriers

The educational setting Time, space, expectations, technical

The preparation phaseMaterial, installing, learning game, combining.

Learning the gameTutorials, freedom vs. regulation, competence gaps, homework

Tools for reflecting on the gameLacking, save games, discuss around game, maps, extra material.

The teacher’s roleKnow games, prepare specifically for game, just-in-time lectures, commitment, teaching approach

1717Findings: Teaching with games

Recognizing games as learningGames position, understanding of history, balancing play (deep/social) vs. learning, pop-ups failure.

Transfer problemDifferent context, history understanding, background information, teacher approach

Cross-curriculumHistory, Geography, English, Danish, Media.

Fight on history understanding Fact obsession, emerging academic identity, games cultural position.

Learn the same but better retention Less information, more exposure, hard to measure

1818Agenda:

1. The mission

2. The field

3. The empirical study

4. A theory

5. Future challenges

1919Basic foundation for education

Student relevance (Builds engagement and investment)- Linking with experience•Autonomy•Modality•Safety•Challenge

Educational (requires instruction)- Linking the right experience•Points forward ‘desirable direction’•Support desire to learn•Match curriculum

}

} Computer games do not necessarily support these features but they may be integrated

Computer games support these features quite naturally

The linking of these two parts is hard

2020Educational use of computer games

Game

Experience

Spontaneous concepts

Scientific concepts

• Autonomy / Choice

• Modality (Audiovisual)

• Safety through play

• Challenging

Relevance

Investment in activity

Instruction

Educational

Active experimentation

Concrete Experience

Abstract concepts

Reflective observation/

Player perspective

Student perspective

Engagement

Investment in activity

• Appreciation

• Exploration

• Linking

• Points forward

• Curriculum

• Desire to learn

• Doing

• Applying

• Probing

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• Sidste punkter fra final thoughts!

Experiential learning with computer games: Computer games provide experiences building a sense of relevance and engagement leading students to invest in learning. Instruction extends from the students’s concrete game experiences and investment – instruction facilitates the necessary direction, order and reflection refining the experiences.

Cultural position: Computer games have a lot of baggage when they enter school both positive and negative.

Market conditions: The market for producing material, support and titles for using computer games in schools is practically non-existent.

School structure: School hardly favours the use of computer games with classroom structure, short lessons, few cross-disciplinary courses, curriculum, teaching practice, sparse equipment and low budgets.

Practical experiences: Still few experiences with using computer games for educational purposes and the barriers are substantial for most teachers on the classroom level. We need more actual experiences.

Important contributions

2222Agenda

1. The mission

2. The field

3. The empirical study

4. A theory

5. Future challenges

2323What would it take: A different courseFull package of teacher talks, playing, group discussions, plenum discussions and tailored background materiale.

Cross-disciplinary, project-based & closeness between working forms

Teacher preparation and game skills, hardware situation, support, easier install and update (server)

Specific titles – more overlap between game actions, winning and learning – if we are to learn policy then make policy decisions – but do it in an interesting, safe, rich universe, that you are engaged in, and get feedback on your actions.

Instruction most be relevant for playing the game and playing the game most be relevant for instruction.

2424Contact

Questions or comments

sen@itu.dk

Slides at http://www.itu.dk/people/sen

Links:

http://www.seriousgames.dk

http://game.itu.dk

http://www.game-research.com