Current Game Based Learning Trends
Currently, North American schools are experiencing an increased interest, investment and experimentation with educational technologies. In a survey conducted across the United States, by the Joan Ganz Cooney Centre, almost 700 educators teaching K-8 reported that they had incorporated digital games into their curriculum. Similarily, the Games and Learning Publishing Council found that almost 75% of the K-8 educators surveyed claimed to be using digital games in their classroom. (Games and Learning, 2014). According to the 2010 Horizon Report (K12 Edition),
Consequently, developers and researchers are working in a variety of areas associated with game-based learning. There are thousands of simplistic lower end games available that are already being applied in an educational setting for sometime. However, more sophisticated games are being created that hone in on 21st Century learning skills such as collaboration, problem solving and critical thinking.
With an increased interest in Game Based Learning, many educators are beginning to gamify their classrooms. Its increasing popularity proves that this area of learning still has great potential to grow and evolve.
In this Open Educational Resource, we will be loosely categorizing digital learning games into three types of games; Gamification, Serious Games (Edugames) and Simulation Games. The OER will attempt to explore the different types of Game Based Learning currently being employed in classrooms around the world. Classifying digital learning games into categories can be difficult as there are many similarities and differences between gamification, serious games and simulations.
Karl Kapp.uses information retrieved from articles by Aldrich, Alessi & Trollip, Clark & Mayer, Kapp and Shank to create a chart describing the differences and similarities between serious games and simulations.
