Balancing Fun and Learning in a Serious Game Design
ARTICLE
Christopher Franzwa, Ying Tang, Aaron Johnson, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ, United States ; Talbot Bielefeldt, Clearwater Program Evaluation, Eugene, OR, United States
International Journal of Game-Based Learning Volume 4, Number 4, ISSN 2155-6849 Publisher: IGI Global
Abstract
This article presents the underlying philosophy of Sustain City, an educational serious game system that engages students, particularly prospective and beginning science and engineering students, in a series of engineering design challenges. Various strategies implemented in Sustain City for achieving a balance of fun and learning are discussed, including narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing the player's actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system. The evaluation of Sustain City deployment is also presented. The assessment confirms the values of the serious games in promoting students' interests and learning in STEM fields.
Citation
Franzwa, C., Tang, Y., Johnson, A. & Bielefeldt, T. (2014). Balancing Fun and Learning in a Serious Game Design. International Journal of Game-Based Learning, 4(4), 37-57. IGI Global. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/186168/.