Investigating How Parents’ Beliefs and Engagement Styles Influence Views on Digital Games for Learning

• In Event: Learning in Interactive and Gamified Environments

Abstract

Digital games are a part of American children’s daily home lives, increasingly used in educational settings. For parents, the impact of games on children is often a concern to balance against the potential for learning. Among the gamer parent generation who grew up playing digital games and co-plays with their children more than ever before, perceptions about games for learning are changing. This mixed methods study investigated how parent beliefs and engagement styles (co-play and personal gaming habits) influence views on the value of games for learning. Data were collected through an online survey of 486 parents of children ages 8-17, and 16 parent interviews. Results show high levels of parent support with broadened definitions of learning from games.

Authors

• Meagan Kathleen Bromley Henry, EDC Center for Children and Technology

• Kate Levin, New York University

• Tanya Smith-Sreen, New York University