Cognitive aspects of creativity: Science learning through serious educational games

Abstract

Teams of some of the most imaginative people develop successful commercial video games. The design processes for successful video games permit critical thinking and innovative thought. The integration ofSerious Educational Games (SEG) (Annetta, 2008) into science curriculum was once thought an impossibility, but through several years of work, and funding by the National Science Foundation, it has now become a reality. Using a constructionist approach to science education and SEG development has the potential to impact the process of science learning rather than science content learning alone. Taking it a step further, we ask how can SEG design foster creativity in high school science students? In this chapter, we will sharesome of the theory that drives SEG development, the SEG development steps, and the results from one high school science class development exercises.