Game-based learning: revisiting the debate

Abstract

Abstract

Game-based learning in its various forms has been around for a long time, but with the developments in digital technology it has emerged to the forefront of educational debates. Whilst the proponents of game-based learning suggest that games can be a useful vehicle for learning tasks and educational information,  'sweetening' the learning that the young people of today are arguably averse to, many critics have questioned these assumptions.  Since the publication of Prensky's (2001) seminal essay on digital natives and digital immigrants, we have seen a significant increase in scholarship, research and technologies relevant to digital game-based learning. Now that commercial games have become a billion dollar entertainment industry rivalling that of television or the movie industry new ideas about how they can be incorporated into learning are being formed. This essay, written by the then first year student in 2011, revisits the debates great game-based learning and engages with some of the arguments within the relevant literature.