A multidimensional repertory grid as a graphic organizer for implementing digital games to promote students’ learning performances and behaviors

Abstract

AbstractDigital game‐based learning (DGBL) is a frequently adopted mode for facilitating teaching and learning, where learners are immersed in game contexts to engage in gameplay and to construct meaningful knowledge. However, without guidance, students might have difficulties organizing what they have experienced in gaming contexts. Thus, in this research, a multidimensional repertory grid (MDRG) approach was proposed, and a digital game was implemented accordingly. Moreover, an experiment was executed in a geography course to examine the effectiveness of the strategy. A total of 83 high school students (15.5 years old on average) participated in the experiment. The experimental group learned with the multidimensional repertory grid‐based educational game, while the control group learned with the conventional gaming mode. The analysis results revealed that the experimental group had better learning achievement as well as higher learning motivation, self‐efficacy and metacognition awareness. In addition, the behavioral analysis and interview results revealed that those learning with the proposed strategy had a greater tendency to promote higher order thinking. Accordingly, the limitations and suggestions for future research are provided. Practitioner NotesWhat is already known about this topic Digital game‐based learning is an effective teaching approach that enables learners to effectively acquire knowledge in joyful contexts, hence enhancing their learning achievement and learning motivation. Suitable strategies should be embedded in games to enable students to have a higher level of thinking ability and to improve their academic performance. In view of guiding students to observe from multi‐dimensional perspectives, a repertory grid is believed to be a suitable tool since it enables students to observe different learning objects according to different aspects and elements. What this paper adds A multi‐dimensional repertory grid‐based educational game (MDRG game) was developed to facilitate students’ learning achievement, learning motivation, and self‐efficacy as well as their metacognition awareness. In addition to promoting students’ learning outcomes, students’ learning behavioral transition diagrams were presented and interview results were analyzed in this study. Implications for practice and/or policy Traditional graphs or tables could help students memorize and understand features of learning objects; however, it is not easy to promote students’ higher order thinking skills of making comparisons and reflections from multiple dimensions. The multi‐dimensional repertory grid‐based feedback provides students with systematically organized information to make comparisons and reflections, which furthermore enhances students’ higher order thinking competences. Embedding suitable strategies (e.g., multi‐dimensional repertory grid‐based feedback) in games can effectively improve students’ learning performance without increasing their cognitive load.