Abstract
The design of educational serious games to be used as motivational learning environments is very rewarding but also very challenging. The integration of learning with playing activities seems to be one of the major challenges. Previous work has not examined the integration of science content based on the school curriculum in the gameplay mechanics of a computer role playing game (CRPG) and in a storyline which ends with a dramatic conflict. In this study, an educational CRPG was designed for learning concepts in the physical sciences according to the curriculum of the correspondent book. We integrated the content into the gameplay which included several tasks to be performed and puzzles to be solved, advancing players to successfully complete the game, according to the game’s storyline. Finally, we performed a usability test for ease-of-use and enjoyment issues. Most testers considered the educational CRPG entertaining. Computer role playing game’s gameplay mechanics provide affordances for the integration of science and technology courses in a playful learning environment.
Highlights
Video games are a popular medium which have appeared in several forms and configurations following the development of digital technology
Digital games which belong to a specific game genre, such as computer role playing games (CRPGs), include elements that are repeated [8]
The intention of this study was to design a CRPG to be used as an educational tool for learning physical sciences concepts
Summary
Video games are a popular medium which have appeared in several forms and configurations following the development of digital technology. The first computer games for learning belong to the category of edutainment, using conventional learning theories and providing a simple gameplay with reference to certain curriculum [3]. Educational serious games need to provide skills, such as problem solving, hypothesis testing or strategizing instead of memorization and repetition [4]. From this viewpoint, they can have perceptual, cognitive, behavioral, affective, and motivational influence in several educational fields [5], and especially in the field of science education [6]. Digital games which belong to a specific game genre, such as computer role playing games (CRPGs), include elements that are repeated [8]
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