1. What do we know from research on:
How can a
digital game for learning
be defined?
EUN Partnership AISBL. March 2011

2. Key points
Digital games for learning have some distinctive features (see slide 3)
Digital games for learning can have various hardware & software characteristics (see slide 4)
They can take the form of many different game genres (see slide 5)
They usually encompass mechanisms to track users’ knowledge, ensure that they learn accordingly & trigger interventions when necessary. Most of these mechanisms are based on Intelligent Tutoring Systems (see slide 6)
Cheaper & more accessible gaming technology has facilitated the creation of games for learning (see slide 7)
Evidence shows that while the structure of a game used for learning is partly responsible for students’ achievements, teachers play an even greater role in ensuring games-based learning is effective (see slide 8).

3. Features of games specifically created for learning
Digital games for learning usually include some or all of these features:
Game
Format
Educational
Objectives
Mulitmodal
Representations
Feedback
Mechanisms
Users’
Knowledge & Proficiency
Tracking Tools
Link to existing
Learning
Management
System
Adaptive
Pedagogical
Mechanisms
Information
Provided to
Users

4. Hardware & software characteristics of digital games for learning
Can be employed on a wide range of hardware including:
Desktop computers
Game consoles
Handheld devices
Can feature:
2D technologies
3D technologies
Can use:
Single-player games
Multi-player games

5. Possible game genres include:
Digital games for learning can take the form of many different game genres
Possible game genres include:
Shooters (or shoot’em ups)
Bat-and-ball games
Platformers
Puzzles
Mazes
Sports games
Racing games
Real Time Strategy (RTS) games
Role Playing Games (RPGs)
First –Person Shooters (FPS)
Massively Multiple Online Role Playing Games (MMORPGs)
Adventure games
Educational versions of existing (commercial) games

6. Tracking users’ learning
Below are the 4 essential components (in constant communication) of Intelligent Tutoring Systems (usually linked to a Learning Management System) used to track users’ knowledge, ensure they learn accordingly and trigger interventions when help is needed.
Student Model
Records info on students’ knowledge & mistakes
Information is gathered from students
Knowledge is assessed
Knowledge students may attain upon mastery
Expert Model
Pedagogical Model
Pedagogical strategies adapted to students’ knowledge
Appropriate pedagogical strategies are applied
Interface
Model
Determines how info. is displayed to students
Information is displayed accordingly

7. Multi-user Virtual Environments
Gaming technology available for educators, designers & students to create learning games
The software available for this comprises:
Game Engines
Can be 2D (e.g. Game-Maker) or 3D (e.g. Unity3D)
Some particularly designed for the deployment of education or training material (e.g. Thinking Worlds)
Some particularly designed for students to create a video game using scripting or drag-and-drop features (e.g. Alice)
Mods
A Mods is a Modification of an existing video game, accompanied by a Software Development Kit (SDK)
Practical to use for making an educational game as SDK includes wide range of tools to speed-up the development process
Mods have been used for educational & motivational purposes (e.g. for science or employment skills)
Multi-user Virtual Environments
MUVEs enable players to interact in 3D virtual spaces, socialize, collect artifacts & explore.
e.g. Sloodle, which combines Second Life and Moodle (an LMS)
Commercial & free online learning environments are available for educators & designers to customize content based on learning objectives

8. Effective digital games-based learning impacting positively on students’ achievements depends on:

9. Further information
For a reference list and full discussion of all academic articles and policy papers used as a basis for this visual presentation, please consult the ‘in depth’ answer associated to this question.
For a summarized text version of the above mentioned ‘in depth’ answer, please consult the ‘in short’ answer associated to this question.