Speaker: Dr. Timothy Hew, Faculty of Education, HKU 
Date: Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Time: 9:00-13:00
Venue: Room 802, Meng Wah Complex 8/F, HKU


Abstract:

Student engagement is frequently considered a necessary prerequisite for student learning and participation. Traditionally, teachers have used strategies such as positive reinforcements (e.g., praise, reward), active learning methods (e.g., hands-on activities), or problem-oriented learning (e.g., relating content to real-life use) to engage students in learning. Despite the use of these strategies, student engagement is still considered one of the major problems faced by today’s schools and colleges. In this talk, I present the results of 2 studies that examined the effects of digital game mechanics on master students’ engagement and learning. The deployment of game mechanics produced greater student contribution in the discussion forums. I also found the use of game mechanics positively motivated students to engage with more difficult tasks, and that the quality of students work higher than those in the control groups.