Using Games to Bridge Scholarly and Practical Learning

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Using Games to Bridge Scholarly and Practical
Learning

• Patti Banyas
• CEP901 Research Critique Proposal
• Michigan State University

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Historical Perspective

• Culin 1900s, study the value of play
• Duke 1950s, simulation games
• Papert 1960s, LOGO
• Today the research is also driven by the cultural
  influences technology and digital games have on
  our society

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The need?

• School-based learning may not address key issues
  Kirriemuir et al
• Differences in school and real-world learning
  Resnick
• How do make the school experience more rich and
  valuable to students?

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Differences in and out of school
Adapted from Resnick, 1987
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Characteristics of Effective Learning Games

• Skills strategic thinking, planning,
  communication, numeric application, negotiation,
  group decision-making and data handling
• Empowerment
• Problem solving
• Understanding
• Fun?

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Games as the bridge
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Research Questions

• Where do good learning and good games meet?
• How can games be used as a tool to bridge the
  divide between scholarly and practical learning
  to best suit the needs of learners?

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Research Proposal

• Design an activity that gives students the
  opportunity to experience a real-world scenario
• The activity will also solicit feedback from
  professionals in the field to testify to the
  level of authenticity that is either present or
  not in the activity

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Research Proposal

• Market Structure Simulation Game designed to
  provide them with the experience of being an
  industry player and show how the structure of an
  industry affects each firms profitability within
  that industry.
• Setting, procedures and rules designed to
  simulate the environment in which students will
  eventually be in.

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Research Proposal

• Participants
• Senior-level university students enrolled in a
  management course
• Working management professionals

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Research Proposal

• Methods
• Pre-test of key concepts implemented in the game
  to establish a baseline (both groups)
• Gameplay session, recording decisions and
  strategies employed within game (both groups)
• Survey usability, perceived value, enjoyment
  and relationship to reality

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Research Proposal

• Analysis
• Compare students before after play
• Compare play of students and professionals
• Relate analysis to survey responses
• Design considerations relating to surveys

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Questions?
thank you for your attention