Leveraging Students’ Game Culture in Education: Validating the benefits of utilising videogames to inform pedagogy

Checkpoint | Brunel University London . September 2023 Research Paper. All images used in this publication are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the students involved in the study ©monkeybusinessimages, iStock: ©SeventyFour, iStock.A blog post about the pilot, Videogames + Education: A Powerful Synergy for the Future of Learning by Tamer Asfahani, April 20, 2023, is available online at: https://checkpointmagazine.com/videogames-education-a-powerful-synergy-for-the-future-of-learning/ .Research Objectives: The overall challenge this research responds to is the need to increase all children’s engagement with education. One solution (among many) is to work through a game-based lesson content approach, as exemplified by Checkpoint Learning Materials (CLM). The aim of this research was to evaluate the ‘engagement value-add’ of CLM which, in turn, will enable greater outreach to schools of the Checkpoint materials. The sub-challenge is to work with Checkpoint to evidence the effectiveness of their Video Game culture-based learning materials, as outlined by their in-house pedagogy, in ways to support the National Curriculum in key stage 2 (years 3-6). The project will allow Checkpoint to further develop and market their learning materials to publishers and education providers. The aim is to validate Checkpoint’s pedagogy and lesson plans. It will enable Checkpoint to help design school CPD for training primary school teachers