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

Petros Lameras, Sylvester Arnab, Craig Stewart, Samantha Clarke, Panagiotis Petridis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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 while 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 languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)972-994
JournalBritish Journal of Educational Technology
Volume48
Issue number4
Early online date30 May 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2017

Bibliographical note

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Lameras, P., Arnab, S., Stewart, C., Clarke, S., & Petridis, P. (2016). Essential features of serious games design in higher education: linking learning attributes to game mechanics. British Journal of Educational Technology, Early view, which has been published in final form at http://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.

Keywords

  • serious games
  • game based learning
  • Game mechanics
  • game design

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Essential features of serious games design in higher education: linking learning attributes to game mechanics'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this