The role of games in facilitating preparation for future learning

Abstract

This paper, after exploring the importance and relevance of learning transfer to the development of and research into games for learning, presents a reconceptualisation of learning transfer as "preparation for future learning" (Bransford & Swartz 1999) and goes on to describe efforts to develop a web-based space game to facilitate learning transfer in this sense to a series of novel learning tasks presented as part of an innovative interactive astronomy exhibit for children. Discussion is offered with regard to the game design and development process - the latter based on the Adobe Flash CS3 environment - and with regard to results of the pilot of a "proof of concept" game prototype with a group of 26 boys aged 10-12. Some initial conclusions are drawn with regard to necessary improvements to both game design and research design; issues such as frequency of practice and cognitive fidelity are proposed in closing as important conditions for game-based preparation for future learning.