PD25-07 Harnessing the Wonder of Games for Educational Research

Session Type: Professional Development Course

Abstract

This hands-on, creative course explores the intersection of game-based learning and educational research, particularly in relation to the AERA 2025 theme of Research, Remedy, and Repair: Toward Just Education Renewal. This course explores games as a research instrument to gain deeper insights into current learning trends and the application of critical pedagogies.
The course objectives provide participants with the skills to design problem-solving educational games as practical research tools and to encourage an understanding of how game-based learning can be incorporated into educational research to tackle complex issues. The target audience for this course includes graduate students, early career scholars, and advanced researchers interested in educational research methods and game design.
The course format will include a brief lecture introducing game-based learning pedagogies, and their importance in educational research and a problem-solving card game developed by the researchers. Next, each small group will participate in a hands-on demonstration round, during which part of each group will play a game, and the other part will observe gameplay to collect data. Next, small groups will develop and test game prototypes in relation to existing or new research questions and theoretical frameworks. The prerequisite skills or knowledge include a basic understanding of educational research methodologies and social-emotional learning frameworks. Familiarity with game design concepts and pedagogy is helpful but optional. The required materials will include game design papers and digital prototype kits provided by the course faculty for each participant. Potential assignments include creating customized games and proposing initial game-based research designs. There is an additional course fee: Member: $90/Non-member: $115

Sub Unit

• Professional Development and Training Committee

Directors

• Erin Wachter, University of Northern Colorado

• Weihsuan Lo, University of Northern Colorado

Instructors

• Heng-Yu Ku, University of Northern Colorado

• Matthew D. Farber, University of Northern Colorado