Videogames and collateral learning

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Cover illustration by Valeria Sechi
PDF (Italian)
Published: Dec 31, 2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17471/2499-4324/86
Keywords:
Videogames, Serious Games, Edutainment, Massive multiplayer online role-playing games, Agency, Educational Technology, Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL),

Main Article Content

Andrea Benassi
Istituto Nazionale di Documentazione, Innovazione e Ricerca Educativa (INDIRE), Firenze

Abstract

Many people wonder how something serious can be learnt from videogames when most commercial titles do not appear to transmit much in the way of educational contents. Yet, if we really want to understand the actual educational potential of entertainment-type videogames, we need to shift our perspective and adopt evaluation criteria that differ from those used for reading a novel or watching a movie. In other words, we need to carefully examine how players participate in the unfolding of the game. Accordingly, this paper analyses what happens in some well-established types of videogames, focusing on the rules, constraints and affordances that are constantly negotiated during gameplay. This form of participation generates added value for collateral learning and is connected to the development of attitudes and competencies rather than to knowledge acquisition.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 21 No. 3 (2013): TD60 - General Issue On Educational Technology
Section
Articles - Special Issue

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