Poster #19 - Creating Meaningful Learning Environments Through Games: The Case for Measuring Play

• In Event: 77.059 - MTCC Tuesday Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: 77.059-2 - Game-Based Learning Environments and Elements of Gamification

Abstract

Game-Based Learning (GBL), a popular medium in and out of schools, can increase students’ knowledge and skills in a variety of content areas (Martinez-Garza, Clark, & Nelson, 2014; Young, Slota, Cutter, Jalette, Mullin, Lai, Simeoni, Tran & Yukhymenko, 2012). We know that GBL environments can be effective; however, we are still unsure of how they are effective (Young, et al., 2012). The purpose of this project is to develop a tool that measures the theoretical construct of play, so that “games” can be explored, compared, and evaluated. Conceptualizing and measuring individual play attributes within GBL, will allow researchers to make empirical connections between measurable attributes and learning outcomes to inform the use and design of games for GBL.

Authors

• Kayla Flanagan, University of Georgia - Athens

• Georgia Wood Hodges, University of Georgia