6 Principles of Game-based Learning

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The Failure Dynamic

Fail early, fail often

• Failing in a game is not the same as failing in life. The stakes are much lower.
• In certain games players must fail many times in order to succeed.
• In this way, failing many times allows players to get a little farther each time they try. This promotes perseverance.
• This teaches students to take risks and put in the hours to practice more.

The Flexibility Dynamic

Provide multiple paths to success

• Early video games provided only one way to win. You had to meet a predetermined series of objectives in a certain order. If you got stuck at any point, you could not finish the game.
• Later games such as Mario 64 and Grand Theft Auto provided a “sandbox” environment of quests to complete and places to explore. It was possible to finish the game you own unique way.
• Consider finding multiple paths to success for students in your courses. Consider offering a “main quest” or storyline for the primary content surrounded by multiple “side quests” that allow them to explore based on interest or strengths.

The Construction Dynamic

Build something that matters

• Students want to feel engaged in creating something that has purpose.
• Minecraft allows open-ended building opportunities in which players set their own goals and freely express their creativity in the process of building something difficult and worthwhile.
• Find ways to engage students in your own classroom by reaching out to the community at large or by challenging your students to create an initiative that they care about.

Situated Meaning

Learn new ideas by experiencing them

• Students learn new vocabulary words by experiencing them within game situations.
• Majority of subjects teach students some abstract concepts, like Chemistry, History, or Math.
• Introductory or reviewing the concepts in the game is much more powerful as games allow students to experience the concepts in the context and allow for demonstration of students knowledge.

System Thinking

Learn how all pieces fit or can be fitted

• Games make players think in a bigger picture, not just individual actions taken.
• It helps learners see how the pieces fit or can be fitted together to form a whole.

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Building Empathy

Bringing players together to achieve a common goal

• Games have the power to bring players together to achieve a common goal and can also raise awareness of global or local issues by experiencing those topics in a virtual world.
• Players must communicate or work together and have the ability to practice empathy in the form of an avatar and begin to understand others and their reactions.

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