Are Games Effective Learning Tools? A Review of Educational Games

Sara de Freitas

Journal of Educational Technology & Society Vol. 21, No. 2 (2018) pp. 74–84

The literature around the use, efficacy and design of educational games and game-based learning approaches has been building up gradually and in phases, across different disciplines and in an ad hoc way. This has been problematic in a number of ways ...

Using Games and Simulations for Supporting Learning

Sara I. de Freitas

Learning, Media and Technology Vol. 31, No. 4 (December 2006) pp. 343–358

The growing interest in the use of games and simulations to support learning is evidenced in the literature, as well as in recent research projects and initiatives. While a focus upon the users of games and simulations is not well evidenced in the...

Towards a New Learning: Play and Game-Based Approaches to Education

Sara de Freitas

International Journal of Game-Based Learning Vol. 3, No. 4 (October 2013) pp. 1–6

This position paper introduces the idea of a 'new learning' which brings together elements of play and game-based learning approaches into education. The paper argues for a better understanding of the division between structured and unstructured...

The use of ‘exploratory learning’ for supporting immersive learning in virtual environments

Sara de Freitas; Tim Neumann

Computers & Education Vol. 52, No. 2 (February 2009) pp. 343–352

User interfaces are becoming more intuitive following the requirements of the individual learner and reinforcing the drive towards more personalised learning and greater learner autonomy. There are clearly a new set of challenges emerging for...

How can exploratory learning with games and simulations within the curriculum be most effectively evaluated?

Sara de Freitas; Martin Oliver

Computers & Education Vol. 46, No. 3 (April 2006) pp. 249–264

There have been few attempts to introduce frameworks that can help support tutors evaluate educational games and simulations that can be most effective in their particular learning context and subject area. The lack of a dedicated framework has...

Language: English

Designing leadership and soft skills in educational games: The e-leadership and soft skills educational games design model (

Sara Freitas de; Helen Routledge

British Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 44, No. 6 (Nov 05, 2013) pp. 951–968

While the field of leadership studies includes a large corpus of literature and studies, the literature and scientific research in the field of e-leadership and soft skills used in learning game environments are at present small in scale. Towards...

Exploratory Analysis in Learning Analytics

David Gibson; Sara de Freitas

Technology, Knowledge and Learning Vol. 21, No. 1 (2016) pp. 5–19

This article summarizes the methods, observations, challenges and implications for exploratory analysis drawn from two learning analytics research projects. The cases include an analysis of a games-based virtual performance assessment and an...

The Convergence of Gaming Practices with Other Media Forms: What Potential for Learning? A Review of the Literature

Sara de Freitas; Mark Griffiths

Learning, Media and Technology Vol. 33, No. 1 (March 2008) pp. 11–20

Nowhere in the current digital technology landscape is the process of "blurring the lines between media" more apparent than with the uses and applications of gaming practices and technologies. Here the overlaps between new media and media interfaces ...

The Value of Team-Based Mixed-Reality (TBMR) Games in Higher Education

John Denholm; Aristidis Protopsaltis; Sara de Freitas

International Journal of Game-Based Learning Vol. 3, No. 1 (January 2013) pp. 18–33

This paper reports on a conducted study, measuring the perceptions of post-graduate students on the effectiveness of serious games in the classroom. Four games were used (Project Management Exercise, “Winning Margin” Business Simulation, Management...

Industrial and Academic Collaboration: Hybrid Models for Research and Innovation Diffusion

Sara de Freitas; Igor Mayer; Sylvester Arnab; Ian Marshall

Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management Vol. 36, No. 1 (2014) pp. 2–14

This paper explores how, in the light of global economic downturn and rising student populations, new academic-industrial models for research collaboration based upon specific technological expertise and knowledge can be developed as potential...

Will MOOCs transform learning and teaching in higher education? Engagement and course retention in online learning provision

Sara Isabella Freitas de; John Morgan; David Gibson

British Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 46, No. 3 (May 01, 2015) pp. 455–471

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) have been the subject of much polarised debate around their potential to transform higher education in terms of opening access. Although MOOCs have been attracting large learner cohorts, concerns have emerged from ...

Learning as immersive experiences: Using the four‐dimensional framework for designing and evaluating immersive learning experiences in a virtual world

Sara De Freitas; Genaro Rebolledo‐Mendez; Fotis Liarokapis; George Magoulas; Alexandra Poulovassilis

British Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 41, No. 1 (January 2010) pp. 69–85

Traditional approaches to learning have often focused upon knowledge transfer strategies that have centred on textually‐based engagements with learners, and dialogic methods of interaction with tutors. The use of virtual worlds, with text‐based,...

Providing Career Guidance to Adolescents through Digital Games: A Case Study

Ian Dunwell; Petros Lameras; Sara de Freitas; Panos Petridis; Maurice Hendrix; Sylvester Arnab; Kam Star

International Journal of Game-Based Learning Vol. 4, No. 4 (October 2014) pp. 58–70

In an evolving global workplace, it is increasingly important for graduates and school-leavers to possess an understanding of the job market, their relevant skills, and career progression paths. However, both the marketplace and career paths are...

Creative Learning with Serious Games

Aristides Protopsaltis; Lucia Pannese; Sonja Hetzner; Dimitra Pappa; Sara de Freitas

International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET) Vol. 5, No. 2010 (Mar 23, 2010)

This paper, summarises the Creative Learning with Serious Games workshop that took place in the Fun and Games 2010 conference. The workshop discussed innovative methodological approaches to Serious Games for creative learning. A special emphasis was ...

Topics: Games

Foundations of dynamic learning analytics: Using university student data to increase retention

Sara Freitas de; David Gibson; Coert Du Plessis; Pat Halloran; Ed Williams; Matt Ambrose; Ian Dunwell; Sylvester Arnab

British Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 46, No. 6 (Nov 01, 2015) pp. 1175–1188

With digitisation and the rise of e-learning have come a range of computational tools and approaches that have allowed educators to better support the learners' experience in schools, colleges and universities. The move away from traditional paper...

Framing the Adoption of Serious Games in Formal Education

Sylvester Arnab; Riccardo Berta; Jeffrey Earp; Sara de Freitas; Maria Popescu; Margarida Romero; Ioana Stanescu; Mireia Usart

Electronic Journal of e-Learning Vol. 10, No. 2 (2012) pp. 159–171

Nowadays formal education systems are under increasing pressure to respond and adapt to rapid technological innovation and associated changes in the way we work and live. As well as accommodation of technology in its ever-diversifying forms, there...

The development approach of a pedagogically-driven serious game to support Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) within a classroom setting

Sylvester Arnab; Katherine Brown; Samantha Clarke; Ian Dunwell; Theodore Lim; Neil Suttie; Sandy Louchart; Maurice Hendrix; Sara de Freitas

Computers & Education Vol. 69, No. 1 (November 2013) pp. 15–30

Didactic approaches to Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) have been shown to yield limited outcomes when compared to approaches that stimulate peer discussion and debate. Creating effective interventions, which stimulate peer involvement, remains ...

Language: English

Mapping learning and game mechanics for serious games analysis

Sylvester Arnab; Theodore Lim; Maira B. Carvalho; Francesco Bellotti; Sara Freitas de; Sandy Louchart; Neil Suttie; Riccardo Berta; Alessandro De Gloria

British Journal of Educational Technology Vol. 46, No. 2 (Mar 30, 2015) pp. 391–411

Although there is a consensus on the instructional potential of Serious Games (SGs), there is still a lack of methodologies and tools not only for design but also to support analysis and assessment. Filling this gap is one of the main aims of the...