Educational Games Research Articles

Teaching social inclusion, public policy and governance through active learning and educational games

How can an active learning approach enhance how key topics in public policy, public administration, and governance are taught? This article describes four educational game scenarios that illustrate decision-making processes in social inclusion policies. Various governance aspects can be examined through these games, including accountability reforms, crisis management, challenges in implementing artificial intelligence in social service provision, and market regulation. All these cases have been developed within the framework of the P-Cube project, an Erasmus + project that aims to foster active learning through the use of educational games for teaching public policy. The first case illustrates the effect of regulation on nursing home services, and aims to examine the implications of establishing independent agencies to regulate specific social sectors and the involvement and participation of the market and stakeholders in these regulatory bodies. The second case explores the application of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making in a surveillance system for detecting welfare fraud, in which the main learning objective is to discuss governance implications and consequences for social innovation and inclusion. The third case examines the implementation of alternative solutions for providing school meals to children from low-income families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objective here is to explore the role of participatory mechanisms in driving policy change and to identify the factors influencing their degree of effectiveness. The fourth case explores the potential ways of regulating the rights of workers employed in the digital platform-based economy. Our cases target graduate and postgraduate students in political science, public administration, public policy, social policy, and other related fields. They also offer valuable insights for practitioners, specifically public managers at different organizational levels.

Open innovation: the experience of NaturTEC-Kids Living Lab in the co-design of a video game to engage children and adolescents with nature

ABSTRACT The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the process of co-creation and evaluation of an educational video game application called “Natur-Kingdom,” developed within the framework of the NaturTEC-Kids Living Lab with the active participation of children and adolescents. This article aims to demonstrate how the integration of end users into the creation process of this techno-educational solution enabled the identification and adaptation of key elements, focusing on technology’s role in connecting children to the natural environment, fostering ecological awareness, and promoting pro-environmental behaviors. Additionally, it aims to highlight the effectiveness of co-design, testing, and evaluation sessions, in identifying areas for improvement and optimization in the design, ensuring that the final technological system meets its pedagogical objectives and remains accessible and appealing to its target audience.

Stocked: An Educational Lab Safety Card Game

Stocked: An Educational Lab Safety Card Game

The Impact of the Interactive Floor Device and Aerobic Training on Executive Functions in Children

Background/Objectives: Considering the importance of physical activity on the development of cognitive functions in children, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a ten-week training program using the Interactive Floor device (© Funtronic), i.e., a kinesthetic educational game, and aerobic activity training on executive functions in 9-year-old children. Given current knowledge of the advantages of gamification and on-task switching, stronger improvement was expected for the Interactive Floor device than aerobic exercise activities. Methods: Sixty-four children (29 boys/35 girls) were randomly assigned to the Interactive Floor (n = 22), Aerobic Training (n = 22), or Control groups (n = 20). The participants had their cognitive abilities assessed twice (pre- and post-intervention) using computer tests from the Vienna Test System (VTS) and subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children® Fifth Edition (WISC®-V). From VTS, the Stroop Test was used to measure inhibition and attentional control, while the Corsi Block test assessed visuospatial short-term working memory. To assess auditory working memory, the Digit Span subtest from the WISC®-V was applied. Additionally, fluid intelligence was estimated using Raven’s Progressive Matrices. Results: Repeated-measures mixed ANOVA and post hoc tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons showed that all intervention program groups improved in terms of intelligence and non-verbal abstract reasoning. The second significant finding in this study was that especially children from the Interactive Floor group developed their executive functions, i.e., inhibition and attentional control as well as their spatial short-term memory capacity. Conclusions: The results suggest that a combination of both physical exercise and cognitive games in the Interactive Floor group resulted in greater improvement in cognitive abilities in children than aerobic exercise or physical education lessons. It seems that a multidisciplinary approach combining physical and cognitive stimulation effectively promotes child development. Future programs aiming to improve cognitive skills in children should consider incorporating interactive and engaging activities that stimulate both the body and the mind.

Developing Recognizing Ability of Hijaiyah Letters Through the Hijaiyah Letter Tree Educational Game Tool at RA Asyarif Sibanggor Jae

The hijaiyah letter tree educational game tool is an effective and fun game for children. The ability to recognize hijaiyah letters at RA A-Syarif Sibanggor Jaeini is still relatively low. This research aims to find out: 1) how to make educational game tools. Educational game tools. Hijaiyah tree game. To recognize hijaiyah letters for young children at RA As Syarif. To find out the effectiveness of the Hijaiyah Tree Educational Game tool for early childhood children at RA As Syarif; 2) Use of educational game tools: Hijaiyah tree game to recognize hijaiyah letters for children at RA As Syarif. This research uses the development research (R & D) development model ADDIE (Analysis-Design-Develop-Implement-Evaluate) developed by Dickand Carey. Data collection in this research was by means of validator questionnaires, observation sheets, interviews, documentation. The results of this research obtained an average value for product validation by media experts, namely 3.42, adjusted to the scale 4 convection table, which is in the range 3.25 < M ≤ 4.00 in the “good” category. The assessment by material experts received an average product validation by material experts, namely 3.42, adjusted to the scale 5 convection table in the range 3.25 < M ≤ 5.00 in the “Very good” category. So it can be seen that the overall average is 4.55 from each aspect of the development assessment. It can be concluded that this hijaiyah tree educational game tool is declared “Decent”. The children’s responses were very positive, showing high enthusiasm for the learning media used. The average rating from teachers reached 5.00, which is in the Very Good category. Based on the results of validation and trials, it can be concluded that the Hijaiyah Letter Tree learning media product is suitable for use and has good effectiveness in improving children’s ability to recognize Hijaiyah letters, thus the Hijaiyah Letter Tree Game Tool for learning to recognize Hijaiyah letters is declared valid and does not need to be revised.

Implementation of the Use of Educational Game Tools (clogs) from Wood Waste to Develop Creativity

The importance of educational game tools for early childhood is the background of this study, especially in teacher creativity in using wood waste as an educational game tool. This research aims to determine the implementation of using wood waste as an educational game tool to develop teacher creativity at PGRI Sarimulyo Kindergarten. This research uses qualitative methods through a qualitative descriptive approach. The subjects of this research were PGRI Sarimulyo Kindergarten educators. Data collection techniques used observation, interviews, documentation and triangulation. Data analysis techniques use data collection techniques, data reduction, data presentation and data conclusion. The results of the research show that the implementation of using wood waste as an educational game tool (clogs) can develop teacher creativity. Educational game tools (clogs) are traditional educational game tools which play an important role in helping to develop effective and enjoyable learning, with educational game tools (clogs) making it easier for teachers to stimulate aspects of children's development, including aspects of physical, motoric, cognitive and social emotional development, and art, as well as making it easier for educators to deliver learning. Keywords: Early Childhood Educational, Game Tools, and Creativity

Infusing Vibrancy into Science Learning through Weismann: An Educational Game for Learning Plants and Animals’ Reproduction Systems

This research endeavours to develop an educational game, Weismann, designed to enhance the engagement and effectiveness of teaching and learning about plants and animals’ reproduction systems. Named after August Friedrich Leopold Weismann, the pioneering scientist behind the germplasm theory, the game aims to infuse vibrancy into the learning experience. Adopting a Research and Development (R&D) framework, the study employs sourced data from multiple channels, including expert validation assessment scales as well as science teachers and their students’ feedback on their practical experiences as users. The findings reveal Weismann to be highly valid, scoring 91.2, and remarkably practical, with teachers and students rating it at 95.9 and 83.9, respectively. These results affirm the game’s efficacy as a valuable tool for science education, offering a dynamic and effective approach to learning.

Hubungan Penggunaan Game Edukasi Sebagai Media Evaluasi Pembelajaran PAI dan Motivasi Belajar Siswa Kelas 7 di SMPN 1 Kota Bogor

This research aims to determine whether there is a relationship between using educational games as a learning evaluation medium in Islamic Religious Education subjects and the learning motivation of grade 7 students at SMPN 1 Bogor. This research is quantitative research using a correlational type. The population in this study was class 7 students, totaling 309 students, with a sample of class 7-D and 7-H students totaling 78 students. The data collection technique in this research uses observation, questionnaires, and documentation. The information obtained from respondents through this questionnaire was used to find the relationship between using educational games as a medium for evaluating Islamic Education learning and learning motivation. This research uses a correlation test to determine the hypothesis. The hypothesis results obtained based on this correlation test are that the significance value of variable X and variable Y both show a value of 0.000 < 0.05 with a Pearson correlation value of 0.558. These results show that Ha is accepted and H0 is rejected, which means there is a positive relationship with a moderate correlation between using educational games as a learning evaluation medium and the learning motivation of grade 7 students at SMPN 1 Bogor.

Enhancing the Alphabet Recognition Skill by Using Educational Games (HAPCAB Model) of Primary 1 Students at Puyud Community School, Pattani Province, Thailand

The purpose of this research was to investigate the effectiveness of using educational games, specifically the HAPCAB model, in improving students' alphabet recognition skills in primary 1 students at Puyud Community School in Pattani Province, Thailand. The study included 27 students in the first semester of 2022. The students were selected through purposive sampling. The research instruments involved lesson plans, pre-tests and post-tests for alphabet recognition, and a satisfaction measurement scale. The results of the research showed that students' alphabet recognition skills improved after using the HAPCAB model, with a higher achievement score of 11.85 compared to before. Additionally, the students had a very favorable level of satisfaction with the HAPCAB model, with a mean score of 4.70.

Pengembangan dan Implementasi Permainan Edukatif untuk Meningkatkan Kognitif, Sosial, dan Emosional Anak-Anak di Panti Asuhan Muhabbatul Haq

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a community service program through the development and implementation of educational games at Muhabbatul Haq Orphanage. The method used in this program involves three main stages: preparation and needs identification, educational game development, and game implementation. In the first stage, the team conducted initial observations and interviews with caregivers and children to identify their educational needs. The second stage involved the development and design of games that covered cognitive, social and emotional aspects. The third stage was the implementation of the games at the orphanage with regular game sessions. The results of the program showed significant improvements in the children's creativity and basic knowledge, as well as the strengthening of their social and emotional skills. The children were able to display creativity in the guessing game and answered questions well in the quiz, showing solid understanding. The program not only provides short-term benefits of improved knowledge and skills, but also long-term contributions to community development. In conclusion, educational games are proven to be effective in supporting children's development, building good character, and creating a fun learning environment.

Serious games are more than just games.

Serious games (SG) or educational games are complete games designed for a specific purpose that fulfill both their classic function of entertainment and promote the learning of specific concepts or skills and optimize health care in general. In the pediatric setting, these games combine strategies to educate about health issues, promote healthy behaviors, provide therapy or medical treatment. SG have been shown to promote adherence to treatment in children with chronic diseases, reduce anxiety in those undergoing invasive medical procedures, and stimulate the development of cognitive, emotional, or psychomotor skills. However, it is important to emphasize that the success of SG in pediatrics depends to a large extent on game quality, their design based on clear objectives, and their accurate adaptation to the individual needs and preferences of patients.

AI-Powered Training Program for Enhancing Teachers’ Skills in Creating Educational Digital Games

This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based training program in developing electronic educational game production skills for teachers of students with learning disabilities. Data were collected using research tools, including an achievement test designed to measure cognitive skills and an observation checklist aimed at assessing performance in the production of electronic educational games. Using a quasi-experimental design with a single group, the research tools were applied and then the AI-based training program was implemented, with the tools being applied again afterwards. The research sample included all 50 teachers from public and private schools for students with learning disabilities in the Jazan region during the third semester of the academic year 1444 AH / 2023 AD. The results demonstrated that the AI-based training program helped teachers of students with learning disabilities improve their cognitive and performance skills in creating electronic educational games. In light of these findings, the researcher recommends employing AI-based programs in education and encourages collaboration between teachers and educational technology experts to achieve effective educational training methods and the continual development of technical skills among these teachers. KEYWORDS Chatbots, ChatGPT, e-learning, special education, learning disabilities, Make It

Sustainable states: a role-playing game for sustainability education

Sustainable states: a role-playing game for sustainability education

The Influence of Developing an Understanding of Basic Programming Concepts Through Educational Games as A Learning Method For Elementary School Students.

Integrating engaging learning methods into the educational landscape has become increasingly crucial for enhancing student understanding and engagement. This study investigates the impact of educational games as a learning method for improving elementary school students' comprehension of basic programming concepts. The research hypothesizes that educational games can significantly enhance the understanding of programming concepts by making abstract ideas more tangible and engaging through interactive and enjoyable learning environments. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study involved two groups of elementary school students: the experimental group, which utilized an educational game designed for teaching introductory programming concepts, and the control group, which received traditional instruction. Both groups underwent assessments of their understanding of basic programming concepts before and after the intervention through standardized tests. The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in the scores of students in the experimental group compared to those in the control group. This suggests that educational games not only aid in better understanding complex subjects such as programming and increase students' motivation and engagement levels. The findings of this study contribute to educational practices by illustrating how educational games can effectively support the introduction and teaching of programming at an early age within the elementary educational system. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of integrating such tools into standard curricula to enhance student learning across various subjects. The study urges future research to explore the long-term impacts of educational games on learning outcomes and how these tools can be further integrated into the educational system

Facial expression analysis in children with autism spectrum disorder using a refined Human-Robot-Game platform for active learning

ABSTRACT The use of serious video games and robotics in children's education and therapy is rapidly increasing. Innovative Human-Robot-Game (HRG) platforms are particularly promising for assessing learning and behaviour in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), who often face challenges with attention, communication, and socialisation. Research shows that when children with ASD engage with social robots connected to interactive educational games, their learning, attention, and communication skills improve. This study aims to monitor the psychosocial and cognitive progress of children with ASD using an HRG platform, refining it as a tool for active learning. The article focuses on enhancing the facial recognition metrics of the HRG platform, which is identified as LOLY-MIDI and designed to measure attention and emotions in children while playing serious video games with the assistance of a social robot. Using a mixed-methods experimental approach strategy, reviewing previous studies, and employing tools like OpenFace and the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) for facial recognition, the research achieved greater precision in designing these metrics, providing accurate measurements of attention and emotional responses. The findings offer valuable insights for psychology and education professionals in assessing the socio-educational progress of children with ASD.

Good luck have fun: The need for video game pedagogy in teacher education

AbstractIn education, the shift to emergency remote teaching found teachers working to increase student engagement in the online environment while still relying on face‐to‐face pedagogical approaches in the absence of sufficient Professional Development opportunities (DeCoito & Estaiteyeh, 2022). In response to the growing interest in video games in education, this article reconsiders the data collected for a single case of primary/junior preservice teachers (PTs) enrolled in a science education methods classroom to answer (a) How can video games be used as a learning object in a teacher education program? (b) How does using a video game in a science education class impact PTs' intent and understanding of using video games in their future classroom? (c) How PTs can be supported to understand how video games can be used? Results found video games acted as significant springboards for learning as PTs worked together to make meaning of STEM and reflected—both during and after gameplay—on video game use with their future students. Additionally, exposure to digital game‐based learning increased both intent and confidence of using video games as deep learning objects for their future classrooms. Recommendations and implications are discussed regarding the introduction and integration of video games in a teacher education program.

Development of Educational Game Learning Media with An Ethnomathematics Approach Based on Banyumas Culture to Improve Students’ Mathematical Understanding Skills

The background of this research is the low mathematical understanding skills of seventh-grade students at SMP Negeri 1 Ajibarang. This study aims to develop educational game learning media with an ethnomathematics approach based on Banyumas culture in Geometry material that is valid and effective in improving mathematical understanding skills. The research method used Research and Development (R&D) with the ADDIE model. The population of this study includes all seventh-grade students, and the sample used in this study consists of class VII-B as the experimental class and class VII-A as the control class, with each class comprising 34 students. The results of this study indicate that the educational game learning media with an ethnomathematics approach based on Banyumas culture in Geometry material is valid, with an average percentage of 90.48% from material experts, 92.50% from media experts, 83.08% from mathematics teachers, 93.67% from small group trials, and 88.13% from field trial. The educational game learning media with an ethnomathematics approach based on Banyumas culture is also declared effective in improving students' mathematical understanding skills in Geometry material, as evidenced by the t-test result Sig. (2-tailed) = 0.000 < 0.05. Since the average N-Gain score of the experimental class is 0.73, which is higher than the average N-Gain score of the control class, which is only 0.43, it can be concluded that the educational game learning media with an ethnomathematics approach based on Banyumas culture is effective in improving the mathematical understanding skills of seventh-grade students in Geometry.

Enhancing English Proficiency in Korean Schoolchildren with Problematic Behaviors: Efficacy of Digital Game-Based Learning.

Objective: Language learning through computer games has been suggested to enhance language abilities compared with traditional learning methods. Training in language skills may also improve self-control and reduce problematic behaviors in children and adolescents. We hypothesized that computer game-based language training could be more effective than classical language instruction. Furthermore, we propose that the enhanced language skills obtained through computer game language training could correspond with improvements in problematic behaviors within this group. Materials and Methods: This was an 8-week crossover trial consisting of 4 weeks of gaming rounds and 4 weeks of control rounds for two groups. Wise-Ax English is a casual digital game developed for English vocabulary education targeting Korean children. The game incorporates 500 English words selected from a pool designated by the Korean Ministry of Education. The study included 38 Korean students. At the 4-week and 8-week marks, all students were assessed with English competency tests. Results: Over 80% of the participants expressed satisfaction with the digital game-based English education, noting significant improvements in their English abilities compared with those achieved using traditional English classes. During the gaming rounds, children with problematic behaviors demonstrated improvement in test scores relative to their peers without such behaviors. Conclusion: The educational game Wise-Ax English can effectively enhance English language skills among Korean elementary school students. Notably, the effectiveness of Wise-Ax English was more pronounced in students exhibiting higher levels of problematic behavior and anxiety.

Lesson Study - The Game: designing a game-based professional development opportunity for teachers and teacher candidates

PurposeThis design paper reports on the development of a board game for teachers’ initial introduction to lesson study (LS). Empirical studies suggest that teachers need to have a good understanding of the goals and steps of LS in order to see their participation in LS as worthwhile. This board game is designed to provide an interactive, motivating and informative introduction to LS.Design/methodology/approachFollowing iterative design steps to develop a game prototype, groups of teachers (N = 57) and teacher candidates (N = 49) played the game and completed surveys about their satisfaction with the game as well as the quality and the transferability of the game. The data were analyzed using quantitative and qualitative methods. To address feedback from participants, two experts in game-based learning and LS, respectively, were asked to review the game and provide additional feedback.FindingsThe vast majority of participants rated the game as an appealing format for professional development (PD) and indicated a high level of motivation to participate in LS and collaborate with colleagues after playing the game. The findings highlight that game-based learning opportunities can provide engaging and informative formats for PD, particularly to facilitate collaboration.Originality/valueTo our knowledge, this is one of the first efforts to design and evaluate a game-based introduction to LS and one of the few studies to discuss educational games specifically designed to enhance teachers’ professional knowledge and collaboration.

Serious Game for the Nursing Assessment of Home-Dwelling Older Adults: Development and Validation Study.

The use of serious games (SGs) in nursing education is increasing, with the COVID-19 pandemic significantly accelerating their development. A key feature of SGs is their flexibility, allowing students to train at any place and time as needed. Recently, there has been a shift from developing disease-specific SGs to games focused on broader health issues. However, there has been a lack of proposals to enhance nursing interventions in home and frail care settings. The REACtion project developed a SG to improve students' understanding and clinical reasoning in caring for home-dwelling older adults. This study aims to describe the development of "REACtion Game" (RG) and explore its validity as an educational tool. A multidisciplinary team created a SG that simulates the assessment process of older adults in home settings by nurses. It features web-based scenarios, clickable objects, and a menu with tools, and medical records to enhance nursing students' knowledge and clinical reasoning skills. A prospective, observational study was conducted using the Dutch Society for Simulation in Healthcare's framework to validate the game. Further, 5 experts in home health care nursing evaluated content validity, while 30 students assessed construct validity, face validity, concurrent validity (by comparing game scores with those from the Nursing Clinical Reasoning Scale), game quality, and usability. Data were collected through self-administered web-based questionnaires and the debriefings of each match played. The students were enrolled in 2 postgraduate nursing programs: a master of science in nursing degree and a first-level continuing education in family and community nursing. Experts rated the content validity highly after revisions (universal agreement calculation method of scale-level content validity index=0.97). The sample consisted of 30 students, predominantly women (n=20, 67%) and aged younger than 45 years (n=23, 77%) with no prior experience in SG. Almost all students had a positive impression of RG as an attractive and useful method for learning new knowledge. Participants found the cases, scenarios, and dialogues realistic (face validity) and of high quality, though usability aspects such as instructions clarity and intelligibility of game progression were less favored. Construct validity showed general agreement on the game's educational value, with family and community nursing students reporting more consistent alignment with educational goals. Overall, RG scores correlated positively with time spent playing but showed limited correlation with Nursing Clinical Reasoning Scale scores. This study developed and validated a nursing education game, especially valuable as simulation is underused in some curricula. Created during the pandemic, it offered a digital learning environment. Although the game shows potential, further testing is needed for usability, concurrent validity, and functional improvements. Future research should involve larger samples to fully validate the game and assess its impact on academic achievement.