Transforming the classrooms: innovative digital game-based learning designs and applications

Abstract

Digital game-based learning has been recognized as an effective approach in promoting students’ learning motivation, which is an important factor of improving students’ learning performance. In recent years, many educational computer games have been developed for enhancing learning in various subject domains, such as mathematics (Hung et al. 2012), natural science (Hwang et al. 2012), social science (Hung et al. 2012) and engineering (Cagiltay 2007). Several studies have reported the effectiveness of educational computer games in enhancing the learning interest of students, and even increase their motivation (Hwang et al. 2012). In comparison with traditional instructions or conventional technology-enhanced learning, digital game-based learning is able to provide a more interesting and challenging learning environment for acquiring knowledge (Bourgonjon et al. 2010; Gerber and Scott 2011; Hwang et al. 2012; Hwang et al. 2013). In the meantime, researchers have indicated that the effectiveness of educational computer games might not be as significant as expected if they are developed without embedding appropriate learning strategies; therefore, it has become an important issue to develop educational computer games by taking effective learning strategies, knowledge construction tools, or educational theories into account (Chao et al. 2013; Hwang et al. 2013; Sung and Hwang 2013). The aim of this special issue is to provide an opportunity for researchers to present their studies related to the development of educational computer games with effective learning strategies. The developed games need to be thoroughly evaluated via practical applications. The submitted papers all went through a double-blind review. It is expected that through