The role of games in facilitating preparation for future learning.

Ó Súilleabháin, Gearóid and Walsh, Paul and Sime, Julie-Ann (2009) The role of games in facilitating preparation for future learning. In: Proceedings of the 3rd European Conference on Games-Based Learning :. ACI, pp. 294-302. ISBN 978-1-906638-47-4

Abstract

This paper, after exploring the importance and relevance of learning transfer to the development of and research into games for learning, presents a reconceptualisation of learning transfer as “preparation for future learning” (Bransford & Swartz 1999) and goes on to describe efforts to develop a web-based space game to facilitate learning transfer in this sense to a series of novel learning tasks presented as part of an innovative interactive astronomy exhibit for children. Discussion is offered with regard to the game design and development process – the latter based on the Adobe Flash CS3 environment – and with regard to results of the pilot of a “proof of concept” game prototype with a group of 26 boys aged 10-12. Some initial conclusions are drawn with regard to necessary improvements to both game design and research design; issues such as frequency of practice and cognitive fidelity are proposed in closing as important conditions for game-based preparation for future learning.