UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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UPSI Digital Repository (UDRep)
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| Abstract : Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris |
| This exploratory research aimed to investigate the educational potential of games through the eyes of eleven teacher trainers in Universiti Pendidikan Sultan ldris. The research began with a literature review of concepts and issues associated with games for use in education. Most teacher trainers held positive attitudes to game-based learning (GBL) practice, which involves learners, game players, teachers, parents, academic researchers and educational game studios. In terms of educational potentials, games can be used in two prongs of GBL practice: learning by making games and learning by playing games. The former could be practiced by guiding learners to design and develop games, in which their performance would be assessed through the quality of gameplay; the latter should involve aligning intended learning outcomes with in-game challenges, whereas their attainment of learning outcomes would be measured and presented in debriefing session. The teacher trainers identified potentials of GBL in preschools, primary schools and secondary schools, by arguing that GBL can create transcendence effects and simplified game world that empower, learners to construct knowledge and to practice skills at their own pace, hence a manifestation of student-centred learning. The trainers proposed using games to support high order thinking skills and soft skills acquisition, despite debating whether to make learning outcomes explicit in games or not. As for teachers, the trainers believed that GBL can be an alternative teaching approach, which affords teachers to make learning fun and engaging. GBL may improve the efficiency in assessment and feedback provision, which in tum makes teaching easier and enhances teachers' morale in school. However, the teachers need GBL-related theories and principles to ground their practice. The teachers should understand the nature of games and keep abreast with current leT trend, not only in choosing the right games for GBL practice, but also in aligning gameplay with learning outcomes. As for academic researchers who study games, the interviewees agreed that GBL is a novel and promising field of study, but there is an urgent need for awareness campaign and GBL training, particularly to those who involve in various facets of Malaysia, education system. Educational game developers were urged to cooperate with the researchers instead of making games without reliable academic justification; while parents were suggested to support the GBL practice in schools and at home. |
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