Closed AccessA model of gameful design for learning using interactive tabletops: enactment and evaluation in the socio-emotional education classroom
Journal
Educational Technology Research and Development
Date Issued
April 15, 2019
Author(s)
Abstract
Building on established pedagogy and technological advancement, this article presents a model of gameful design for learning using interactive tabletops, enacted and evaluated in the context of socio-emotional education. Based on the proposed model, we detail the design of a technology-enhanced learning experience in which a series of traditional lessons are enriched by collaborative work on interactive tabletops; four gameful activities are used which may be directly linked to a school curriculum. We conduct a qualitative case study with the participation of 86 fifth grade students across two elementary schools which have a significant minority enrolment. We demonstrate the ways in which the students draw on recently-acquired knowledge, engage in dramatic play, share the digital space and collaborate intensively to achieve a new and refined understanding of concepts and behaviours linked to perspective-taking. We discuss how tabletops, in synergy with constructivist pedagogy and principles of gameful design, allow researchers and practitioners to promote communication, collaboration and perspective-taking in ways that were hitherto difficult to enact in traditional lessons. Gameful design for learning is seen as a multilevel endeavour, which involves the selection of tasks and tools as well as the behaviour of the learners and the instructor as participants in the learning environment.
Affiliation
Scopus Subject Areas
Education