23 Educational Gaming
Games are a structured form of play in which players try to meet a goal or solve a problem through repeated trial and error. Game activities can be designed to support a range of instructional approaches, as shown in the following table. Additionally, the University of Iowa Office of Teaching and Learning created a game design template to help faculty think through the purpose and structure of their game-based learning activities.
| Instructional Approach | Gaming Activities | Practice Examples |
|
Collaborative learning |
Digital games provide opportunities for developing shared experiences beyond the classroom |
|
|
Personalized learning |
Game structure support curricular flexibility, differentiation, and student choice |
|
|
Experiential learning |
Games provide simulation or role-play opportunities |
|
|
Various |
Game elements, rather than complete games, motivate students to engage with course materials |
|
Additional resources
Select the following links to learn more about games and learning:
