Video Game Design for Learning to Learn

Abstract

Over the past 20 years, the proposal that immersive media, such as video games, can be leveraged to enhance brain plasticity and learning has been put to the test. This expanding literature highlights the extraordinary power of video games as a potential medium to train brain functions, but also the remaining challenges that must be addressed in developing games that truly deliver in terms of learning objectives. Such challenges include the need to: (1) Maintain high motivation given that learning typically requires long-term training regimens, (2) Ensure that the content or skills to be learned are indeed mastered in the face of many possible distractions, and (3) Produce knowledge transfer beyond the proximal learning objectives. Game design elements that have been proposed to support these learning objectives are reviewed, along with the underlying psychological constructs that these elements rest upon. A discussion of potential pitfalls is also included, as well as possible paths forward to consistently ensure impact.

Disclosure statement

Bavelier declares she is founding member and on the scientific board of Akili Interactive, Boston.

Additional information

Funding

This work has been funded by the Office of Naval Research grant [N00014-17-1-2049 to C.S.G.], and the NCCR Evolving Language as well as the Office of Naval Research [N00014-20-1-2074 to D.B.].

Notes on contributors

Angela Pasqualotto

Angela Pasqualotto received her Ph.D. in Cognitive Sciences from the University of Trento and is currently a postdoctoral researcher in the BavelierLab (University of Geneva). She is mainly interested on the design and the evaluation of innovative tools for students with special needs.

Jocelyn Parong

Jocelyn Parong is currently a postdoctoral research associate in the Learning and Transfer Lab in the Psychology Department at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Her research focuses on how people can learn cognitive skills through computerized training and learn knowledge from multimedia lessons.

C. Shawn Green

C. Shawn Green received his Ph.D. in Brain and Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester and completed post-doctoral training at the University of Minnesota before joining the psychology department at UW-Madison in 2011. His research focuses on how individuals’ perceptual and cognitive skills can be improved via behavioral training.

Daphné Bavelier

Daphné Bavelier is an expert on how humans learn, and in particular, how the brain adapts to changes in experience. Her lab established that playing action-packed video games benefits several aspects of cognition. Moreover, her laboratory investigates how new media can be leveraged to foster learning and brain plasticity.