Gaming the Game: A Study of the Gamer Mode in Educational Wargaming

Autor/in	Frank, Anders
Titel	Gaming the Game: A Study of the Gamer Mode in Educational Wargaming
Quelle	In: Simulation & Gaming, 43 (2012) 1, S.118-132 (15 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1046-8781
DOI	10.1177/1046878111408796
Schlagwörter	Foreign Countries; Student Attitudes; Educational Objectives; War; Military Training; Student Motivation; Student Characteristics; Problems; Learning Motivation; Student Behavior; Negative Attitudes; Computer Assisted Instruction; Educational Technology; Computer Simulation; Educational Games; Computer Games; Role Playing; Simulated Environment; Electronic Learning; Discourse Analysis; Instructional Effectiveness; Adult Students; Interaction; Interaction Process Analysis; Video Technology; Observation; Military Personnel; Sweden + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Ausland; Schülerverhalten; Educational objective; Bildungsziel; Erziehungsziel; Krieg; Militärausbildung; Schulische Motivation; Problemsituation; Motivation for studies; Lernmotivation; Student behaviour; Negative Fixierung; Computer based training; Computerunterstützter Unterricht; Unterrichtsmedien; Computergrafik; Computersimulation; Educational game; Lernspiel; Computer game; Computerspiel; Computerspiele; Rollenspiel; Künstliche Umwelt; Diskursanalyse; Unterrichtserfolg; Adult; Adults; Student; Students; Erwachsenenalter; Studentin; Schüler; Schülerin; Interaktion; Prozessanalyse; Beobachtung; Schweden
Abstract	A risk associated with the use of games in training and education is that players "game the game," instead of focusing on their learning goals. The term "gamer mode" is proposed to describe this attitude. A player with a gamer-mode attitude strives to achieve goals that are optimal for winning the game, but suboptimal with respect to educational objectives. In this study of cadets playing an educational wargame to learn ground warfare tactics, the author examined occurrences of gamer mode. The results show that gamer mode on and off emerged in all analyzed sessions. Cadets' understanding of the wargame was different from what the instructors expected. This study discusses why it is important to avoid situations where the gamer mode emerges and also speculates on the sources that generate this attitude--the game itself, the educational setting, and the participants' previous experiences. (Contains 3 tables, 3 excerpts, and 2 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10