Intrinsic game mechanics proven seven times more engaging in math

[Maria Droujkova]

This is a pretty amazing piece of research. Via Garret Eastman.

http://shura.shu.ac.uk/3556/1/Habgood_Ainsworth_final.pdf  

Motivating children to learn effectively: Exploring the value of intrinsic integration in educational games.

M.P. Jacob Habgood and Shaaron E. Ainsworth

Abstract

The concept of intrinsic motivation has been considered to lie at the heart of the user engagement created 

by digital games. Yet despite this, educational software has traditionally attempted to harness games as extrinsic 

motivation by using them as a sugar-coating for learning content. This paper tests the concept of intrinsic 

integration as a way of creating a more productive relationship between educational games and their learning 

content. Two studies assessed this approach by designing and evaluating an educational game for teaching 

mathematics to seven to eleven year olds called Zombie Division. Study 1 examined learning gains of 58 children 

who played either the intrinsic, extrinsic or control variants of Zombie Division for two hours, supported by their 

classroom teacher. Study 2 compared time-on-task for intrinsic and extrinsic variants of the game when 16 children 

had free choice between them. The results of these studies showed that children learned more from the intrinsic 

version of the game under fixed time limits and spent seven times longer playing it in free time situations. Together 

they offer evidence for the genuine value of an intrinsic approach for creating effective educational games. The 

theoretical and commercial implications of these findings are discussed

Cheers,
Maria Droujkova
919-388-1721

Make math your own, to make your own math

 

[Dor Abrahamson]

wow, and in JLS!

... and so much for UMIGO... *SIGH*

d

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"Let's build a better math game."

Dor Abrahamson

Associate Professor

Cognition & Development

4649 Tolman Hall, MC #1670

University of California, Berkeley

Berkeley, CA 94720-1670

USA

http://edrl.berkeley.edu/content/dor-abrahamson

http://gse.berkeley.edu/faculty/DAbrahamson/DAbrahamson.html

More about me: www.edutopia.org/blog/applied-mathematics-video-dor-abrahamson

[Colleen King]

Great find, Maria! Only had time for a quick overview but I'll want to study this one more carefully. Extremely relevant. Would really like to play the various game versions, too.

Colleen

--

[Michael]

[David Corking]

> Motivating children to learn effectively: Exploring the value of intrinsic
> integration in educational games.
> M.P. Jacob Habgood and Shaaron E. Ainsworth

Thanks for the tip.

There are brief videos of the game here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_k22kcpzdE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9jxRRWHR4I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCrd6MV0ehU

Dr Jake Habgood's publication list and PhD thesis are here:
http://www.gamelearning.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/research/research.htm

When I find a feed reader that works with his blog, I'll subscribe:
http://www.hiddenlevel.com/?feed=rss2

Hope that helps, David

p.s. I guess from the above trailer that Sumo Digital has the rights
to the games, but I don't see them in the catalogue:
http://www.sumo-digital.com/games/
Perhaps if someone knows Jake they can ask him where playable versions
can be obtained. or if there is a release schedule.