Serious Games and Gamification in School Education

Dear Colleagues,

Serious games and gamification in school education are research areas that focus on the integration of games and/or game elements into educational settings to enhance learning, engagement, and motivation. In the scope of this Special Issue, we understand serious games as fully fledged games designed with education as their primary purpose, rather than as pure entertainment, while we understand gamification as the introduction of game design elements and game principles into school education contexts.

Both serious games and gamification can significantly increase student engagement by making learning more interactive and experiential. Engaged students are more likely to attend classes, pay attention, and put effort into their work, leading to better educational outcomes and improved knowledge acquisition and retention. But beyond content knowledge, these approaches can help students develop essential 21st century skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and digital literacy. Serious games and gamification platforms can track user progress and performance, providing valuable data that educators can use to tailor instruction to meet individual student needs.

This Special Issue on serious games and gamification in school education aims to consolidate the latest research, theories, practices, and methodologies in the field, providing a comprehensive overview of how these innovative approaches are reshaping educational landscapes. The primary aims of the Special Issue are to:

• Showcase Innovation: Highlight cutting-edge research and innovative practices in the use of serious games and gamification in educational settings, demonstrating their potential to enhance learning and teaching;
• Inform Practice: Offer evidence-based insights and practical recommendations for educators and educational institutions seeking to implement serious games and gamification strategies effectively;
• Guide Future Research: Identify gaps in the current research landscape and suggest directions for future studies to deepen understanding and improve the efficacy of game-based learning interventions.

The scope of the Special Issue encompasses a broad range of topics related to serious games and gamification in school education including, but not limited to:

• Theoretical Foundations: Discussions on the pedagogical theories and frameworks that underpin the design and use of serious games and gamification in education;
• Design Principles: Insights into the design process of educational games and gamified systems, including considerations for engagement, learning outcomes, and user experience;
• Implementation Strategies: Case studies and best practices for integrating serious games and gamification into various educational contexts and curricula;
• Technological Innovations: Exploration of the latest technological advancements supporting serious games and gamification, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence;
• Assessment and Evaluation: Research on the methods and tools for assessing the impact of serious games and gamification on student learning, engagement, and motivation;
• Diverse Contexts: Studies that examine the use of serious games and gamification across different subjects, educational levels, and cultural settings;
• Policy and Ethics: Consideration of the policy implications, ethical considerations, and potential challenges associated with the adoption of game-based learning strategies in education;
• Future Directions: Speculation on the future of serious games and gamification in education, including emerging trends and potential areas for innovation.

By addressing these themes, this Special Issue seeks to provide a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intersection of gaming and education, contributing to the ongoing evolution of teaching and learning practices.

Dr. Carlos Vaz de Carvalho
Dr. Hariklia Tsalapatas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• serious games
• gamification
• educational games
• game-based learning
• school education
• secondary education