Key research themes
1. How can models and frameworks enhance game design thinking and education in board and digital game development?
This theme focuses on educational and theoretical models that enhance understanding and practice of game design, particularly in academic and developmental contexts. It centers on frameworks that clarify the design process, encourage creative thinking, and integrate formal elements with player experience. Such models are crucial for improving the quality of student and novice designers' outputs, fostering reflective practice, and bridging the gap between game design theory and implementation.
2. What are effective design attributes and methodologies to create engaging and educational board and digital games for diverse learning objectives?
This theme investigates concrete design strategies and methodological approaches for developing board and digital games that enhance motivation, creativity, and domain-specific learning outcomes. It covers practical frameworks for integrating subject content into game mechanics, the balance between entertainment and education, and accommodating player agency and social interaction, supporting diverse populations including K-12 learners and higher education students.
3. How can game-based and ludic activities in board and digital formats be leveraged to teach complex or societal issues effectively?
This theme explores the utilization of board and digital games as instructional tools for conveying complex academic, socio-political, or behavioral topics, including AI, climate change, citizenship, and misinformation. It examines theory-informed strategies and empirical applications that harness gameplay and design participation to foster engagement, critical reflection, empathy, and resilience among diverse learner populations.