Jennifer A. McCabe|Steven L. Wise
It’s All Fun and Games until Someone Learns Something: Assessing the Learning Outcomes of Two Educational Games
James Madison University|Northwest Evaluation Association
objective determine whether educational games designed fun effective improving information seeking skillsx0d x0d methods two skills known particularly difficult students taking required information literacy test identified skills ability identify citations ability search databases keywords educational games designed address two skills first game citation tic tac toe placed commonly used bibliographic citations tick tac toe style grid students required play tic tac toe game subsequently given citation identification exercises second game arranged key concepts related search phrases magnetic keyword interface students observed searching databases playing magnetic keyword game pre postplay searches analyzed x0d x0d results students played tic tac toe game improved pretest posttest students took online tutorial addition students played magnetic keyword game demonstrated quicker database searching topics expressed increased satisfaction results x0d x0d conclusions games created measurable educational outcomes fun important however establish educational objective prior beginning game design