Game Design as a Tool to Promote Higher Order Thinking Skills

Abstract

This paper reports a study conducted on enabling teaching higher order thinking skills among kids aged 7 to 12 years old. The objective of the study is to propose a conceptual framework and demonstrate the tools and resources needed by educators to embed higher order thinking skills in classroom using game design. The conceptual framework is based on the standards advocated by International Society on Technology in Education (ISTE) and Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) that is mapped to the process of game design and development. Game design is an engaging process that encapsulates many tenets of thinking skills. The tangible outcomes and progress could be used to measure the thinking process and levels that had taken place. The paper then further demonstrates the use of this framework in a three day workshop. Two sessions of the workshop were conducted with a total of 44 participants. It is hoped that this study contributes in the areas of higher order thinking skills enablers.