Instructional developer Aneesh Bhat of Upside Learning proposes four defining characteristics for game-based learning, with links to research.

by Aneesh Bhat / Upside Learning Blog / 21 June 2011

I spent close to a year laboring under the delusion that game based learning was all about incorporating course material into a game. After all, what else could it be? If I incorporate all the course learning objectives into a game setting and keep score – it qualifies as game based learning doesn’t it?

No! It doesn’t!

Research suggests that if learners are able to score and win the game without learning, they are more likely to do so. So what conclusion can we draw here?

In order for a game to be educational, it is imperative that the learners be required to learn in order to score and win the game.

To learn more…

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