Game-Based Learning

Constructionist Gaming blends the core themes of Constructionism, Maker Education, and Games and Learning to focus on student learning through making their own games. It is oriented by the conviction that making games contributes to the development of technical skills and supports the development of social skills.

Games and Learning encompasses research into the use of video games in learning environments. Subtopics include creation of social and cultural worlds, communities of game play, and use of game-generated data. Currently the most prominent themes revolve around design principles to support student engagement, Meaningful Learning, learner self-concept, brain development, social interaction, and collaborative knowledge production.

Broadly speaking, Gamification refers to the use of elements and principles of game-design in non-game situations. Within education, Gamification is typically focused on making learning activities more engaging. Sub-interests span such topics as student efficacy, Learning Transfer, identity formation, real-time feedback, problem solving, scaffolded learning, and social connection.