Instructional Techniques to Facilitate Learning and Motivation of Serious Games

Abstract

Digital games are very popular in modern culture. We have been examining ways to leverage these engaging environments to assess and support important stu-dent competencies, especially those that are not optimally measured by traditional assessment formats. In this chapter, we describe a particular approach for assessing and supporting student learning in game environments—stealth assessment—that entails unobtrusively embedding assessments directly and invisibly into the gaming environment. Results of the assessment can be used for adaptation in the form of scaffolding, hints, and providing appropriately challenging levels. We delineate the main steps of game-based stealth assessment and illustrate the implementation of these steps via two cases. The first case focuses on developing stealth assessment for problem-solving skills in an existing game. The second case describes the integra-tion of game and assessment design throughout game development, and the assess-ment and support of mathematical knowledge and skills. Both cases illustrate the applicability of data-driven, performance-based assessment in an interactive game as the basis for adaptation and for use in formal and informal contexts. According to " 2015 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry " published by Entertainment Software Association, over 150 million Americans play video games and 42 % play regularly for at least 3 h per week. The popularity of video games has drawn researchers' attention in the exploration of the possibility of using video games to enhance knowledge, skills, and other personal attributes. The idea of using games for serious purposes other than entertainment is called game-based learning. Advocates of game-based learning argue that well-designed AU1