Collaborative computer game play in the science classroom

The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse student engagement, and emerging collaboration patterns when playing a computer game for educational purposes in the science classroom. The case studied is Future City which is an annual national competition for students in grades 6−9 who take on the role of urban planners with the mission to create sustainable future cities in SimCity 4. The outcome of the analysis revealed different types of student engagement, referred to as: executor, core group participant, temporary participant, invisible participant, and visiting participant. The analysis also demonstrated that the collaborations between the students were formed by combinations of the following patterns: predominant decision-making, distributed decision-making, and master-apprentice relationship. The conclusions presented provide implications for instructional designs aspects to consider for educators when bringing in computer games that are collaboratively to be played in the classroom