Design tools for online educational games: Concept and application

Abstract

A research and development program initiated under the aegis of the Center for expertise and research of lifelong learning (SAVIE) has developed a series of generic educational game design shells to enable teachers, trainers and community service workers to create educational games that provide effective learning conditions and are adapted to their distance learning needs. These environments were based on the frame game concept and on the essential attributes of games. In this paper, we will first describe the context which deals with the development of generic shells for educational games. Then, we define the concept of educational games and present the indicators for choosing an educational game that is efficient. Then, we define the concepts of generic game shells and describe the interactive pedagogical design model. Finally, we show an example to illustrate how a generic shell such as that of the Parcheesi game can generate quality educational games adapted to the needs of learners studying in distant locations at various levels of schooling. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.