You are here:

Conceptual Change Takes Time: Game Based Learning Cannot be Only Supplementary Amusement
ARTICLE

, Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Finland ; , Tampere University of Technology, Finland

Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia Volume 19, Number 4, ISSN 1055-8896 Publisher: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE), Waynesville, NC USA

Abstract

In spite of increased interest in game-based learning, relatively little is known about the learning process in games. The aim of this article is to study the process of conceptual change in the context of game-based learning in order to reveal playing behavior that triggers and facilitates it. Primary school pupils (N=401) played a game of mathematics, in which they taught a virtual pet, a teachable agent that can reason based on how it is taught. Two experimental groups were formed: one group was tested under laboratory settings and one group worked in a natural context and was observed only virtually. The results of the study support existing theoretical models about conceptual change by indicating that some of the learners were more sensitive to the perception of cognitive conflicts and experienced them as solvable. Sufficient playing time, high motivation, game elements that triggered reflection, and good metacognitive strategies facilitated conceptual change. The results clearly indicated that educational games cannot be only supplementary amusement, but pedagogically well designed tools that should facilitate reflective processes both during and after the playing sessions.

Keywords: conceptual change, conceptual structure, educational game, game-based learning, reflection, cognitive conflict.

Citation

Ketamo, H. & Kiili, K. (2010). Conceptual Change Takes Time: Game Based Learning Cannot be Only Supplementary Amusement. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 19(4), 399-419. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved March 28, 2024 from .

Keywords

Cited By

View References & Citations Map

These links are based on references which have been extracted automatically and may have some errors. If you see a mistake, please contact info@learntechlib.org.