Game-Based Learning and Gamification in Higher Education
Professor Nicola WhittonManchester Metropolitan University
Why games and learning?
Games are motivating ...
... and digital natives want to learn with games …
… so that learning is so much fun…
… they don’t even know they’re learning!
(This is not a good argument for games and learning)
Game mechanics are engaging
Challenge
Visible progression
CompletionCommunity
Suspension of disbelief
Creativity
Active Learning Environments
Communities of Practice (Lave & Wenger)
Experiential Learning (Kolb)
Affinity Groups (Gee)
Situated cognition(Brown, Collins, Duguid)
Problem-based Learning (Boud; Savery & Duffy)
Zone of Proximal Development (Vygotsky)
Social constructivism
Authentic learning
Problem-based
learning
Playful learning: the magic circle
Freedom to…
… make mistakes
… make believe
… make choices
… make things