Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics

Petros Lameras; Sylvester Arnab; Ian Dunwell; Craig Stewart; Samantha Clarke; P. Petridis

doi:10.1111/bjet.12467

Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics

Petros Lameras, Sylvester Arnab, Ian Dunwell, Craig Stewart, Samantha Clarke, P. Petridis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

173 Citations (Scopus)

812 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This paper consolidates evidence and material from a range of specialist and disciplinary fields to provide an evidence-based review and synthesis on the design and use of serious games in higher education. Search terms identified 165 papers reporting conceptual and empirical evidence on how learning attributes and game mechanics may be planned, designed, and implemented by university teachers interested in using games, which are integrated into lesson plans and orchestrated as part of a learning sequence at any scale. The findings outline the potential of classifying the links between learning attributes and game mechanics as a means to scaffold teachers’ understanding of how to perpetuate learning in optimal ways whilst enhancing the in-game learning experience. The findings of this paper provide a foundation for describing methods, frames, and discourse around experiences of design and use of serious games, linked to methodological limitations and recommendations for further research in this area.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	972-994
Number of pages	23
Journal	British Journal of Educational Technology
Volume	48
Issue number	4
Early online date	30 May 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12467
Publication status	Published - Jul 2017

Bibliographical note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Lameras, P, Arnab, S, Dunwell, I, Stewart, C, Clarke, S & Petridis, P 2017, 'Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics' British Journal of Educational Technology, vol 48, no. 4, pp. 972-994, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12467. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

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10.1111/bjet.12467

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 1 MBLicence: Unspecified

Essential Features of Serious Games Design
Lameras, Petros (Recipient), 1 Dec 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)

Sylvester Arnab
- Research Centre in Postdigital Cultures - Professor in Games Science - Applied Games
Person: Teaching and Research

Cite this

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title = "Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics",

abstract = "This paper consolidates evidence and material from a range of specialist and disciplinary fields to provide an evidence-based review and synthesis on the design and use of serious games in higher education. Search terms identified 165 papers reporting conceptual and empirical evidence on how learning attributes and game mechanics may be planned, designed, and implemented by university teachers interested in using games, which are integrated into lesson plans and orchestrated as part of a learning sequence at any scale. The findings outline the potential of classifying the links between learning attributes and game mechanics as a means to scaffold teachers{\textquoteright} understanding of how to perpetuate learning in optimal ways whilst enhancing the in-game learning experience. The findings of this paper provide a foundation for describing methods, frames, and discourse around experiences of design and use of serious games, linked to methodological limitations and recommendations for further research in this area.",

author = "Petros Lameras and Sylvester Arnab and Ian Dunwell and Craig Stewart and Samantha Clarke and P. Petridis",

note = "This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Lameras, P, Arnab, S, Dunwell, I, Stewart, C, Clarke, S & Petridis, P 2017, 'Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics' British Journal of Educational Technology, vol 48, no. 4, pp. 972-994, which has been published in final form at https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12467. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. ",

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Essential features of serious games design in higher education: Linking learning attributes to game mechanics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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Prizes

Essential Features of Serious Games Design

Profiles

Sylvester Arnab

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