GAMES FOR HEALTH JOURNAL: Research, Development, and Clinical Applications

Volume 3, Number 5, 2014 Book Review

ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2014.0069

Learning by Playing: Video Gaming in Education—

A Cheat Sheet for Games for Health Designers

Amanda E. Staiano, PhD, MPP

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Learning by Playing: Video Gaming in Education edited Especially Relevant Chapters for Games
by Fran C. Blumberg. Oxford University Press, New York, for Health Designers
2014, 384 pp. ISBN: 978-0-19-989664-6
‘‘Do video games provide motivation to learn?’’

C hildren play games to learn about the world around

them. No longer limited to Red Rover and hopscotch,
children have rapidly moved to the digital world to play
(Chapter 6)
In my view, the most relevant chapter for games for health
designers is authored by a team from Fordham University
games. Many of the fun, immersive, rewarding, and inter-
and Syracuse University, led by Dr. Akane Zusho. This
active elements of play remain even when a screen is inserted
chapter is devoted entirely to the theoretical explanations,
into the play space. Learning by Playing: Video Gaming in
coupled with empirical evidence, that explain what makes a
Education provides a snapshot of how videogames may en-
videogame motivating. There are clear implications in this
hance children’s learning. The edited volume is a culmina-
chapter for game designers hoping to change behaviors.
tion of the ‘‘Academic Lessons from Video Game Learning:
Dr. Zusho and colleagues explore several theories, including
Screen2Screen’’ conference hosted in October 2010 by the
self-determination theory, passion theory, and uses and grati-
book’s editor, Dr. Fran Blumberg, at her home institution of
fication theory, to examine how digital games may satisfy the
Fordham University. Reading the book’s author list indicates
player’s basic psychological needs and create an intrinsically
the interdisciplinary nature of the content, with 22 chapters
motivating experience. Tapping into these intrinsic motiva-
from 52 experts in communication, computer science, de-
tors is paramount when a game designer is hoping to pro-
velopmental and cognitive psychology, game design, edu-
mote continuous gameplay during exergaming for sustained
cation, policy analysis, and statistics. Even a high school
physical activity, or when a game designer is providing re-
biology teacher weighs in.
peated exposures to healthy food choices within a game to
Educational games with traditional academic outcomes
prompt healthier eating habits. The chapter largely focuses
were the focus of the conference and textbook, so the book is
on the player’s expectancies during gameplay, explaining
brimming with examples of games that improve literacy or
that a player must find the game important, useful, interest-
math skills in a traditional classroom setting. Outcomes
ing, and enjoyable and that there must be variety and novelty
of interest include cognitive health, neural plasticity, exec-
to entice continued gameplay. Allowing the player to create
utive functioning, motor skills, spatial imagery, visual pro-
concrete and manageable goals, then providing clear feed-
cessing, and auditory processing, as well as teaching science,
back as the player progresses to the goals, is further moti-
technology, math, and literacy lessons that directly relate to
vating. Also, the authors comment on the social comparison
school curriculum.
within gameplay as a potential detriment to motivation, if the
Game designers who are more interested in changing be-
comparison leads to embarrassment or penalizes players
havior than improving test scores, however, should not be
because of poorer performance. On the flip side, positive
dissuaded. Here I provide a ‘‘cheat sheet’’ guide for health
interaction guided by a caring, involved teacher or mentor
game designers who wish to garner golden nuggets from
can create a positive experience.
Learning by Playing that can be adopted from the educa-
tional games research. First, I highlight select chapters that
‘‘Game design perspectives: How should we design
have direct relevance to those who want to change health
educational videogames?’’ (Chapters 10–13)
behaviors via digital games. Second, I coalesce key ‘‘take
home’’ messages from the entire book, drawing attention to An entire section of the book is devoted to the design of
particular sections that may pique a health game designer’s games for learning, so these chapters are chock-full of practi-
interest. cal guideposts for the design of well-crafted, evidence-based

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

319
 320 BOOK REVIEW

games. As Dr. Celia Hodent of Epic Games begins this section, tional content, which will lead to a rather boring game.
‘‘Humans are the most playful creatures of the animal king- Similarly, games for health designers should capitalize on
dom.’’ By tapping into the emotional engagement of gameplay the sensory stimuli and the rapid pace of gaming to keep
through interesting storylines, pushing players beyond their players interested and on their toes.
zone of proximal development (a theory by Dr. Leo Vygotsky),
and leveraging the social interaction inherent in gameplay, ‘‘Relations between video gaming and children’s
designers can build more relevant, immersive games. Dr. executive functions’’ (Chapter 4)
Hodent even provides a list of questions that game designers
As a segway from Dr. Green’s synopsis, Dr. John Best of
should ask before designing a game, in order to encourage
the University of British Columbia further explores the ef-
players to enter the ‘‘flow’’ state (pp. 152–153).
fects of videogaming on cognitive outcomes, and he actually
A key message in this section is that game designers
devotes 3 pages to the potential for exergames to impact
should partner with academics in order to use formative re-
cognition. Relevant to behavior change, gaming may impact
search and scientific theory as a guide. Chapter 12 explicates
inhibitory control in positive or negative ways. For instance,
this game designer/researcher partnership with an actual
children may overeat while playing sedentary videogames.
example of research-led game development. This point is
Yet digital games require that a player overrides automatic
especially relevant considering game development is no
impulses in order to make correct choices in a constantly
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longer limited to big industry—publishing mobile games, for

changing digital environment. It remains to be seen whether
instance, can be done at a very low cost and low skill level
improved inhibitory control within a gaming context trans-
given that accessible and affordable developer kits are now
fers to better inhibition when faced with tasty but sugar-laden
available (Chapter 11).
snack foods. Dr. Best also explicates the relationship be-
tween physical activity/fitness and the executive function
‘‘Electronic game changers for the obesity crisis’’
demands of gaming. Specifically, he highlights the limited
(Chapter 15)
research indicating that the activity of exergame play appears
My colleagues and I contributed a profile of the potential to improve a player’s executive functioning skills, as well as
for games to combat childhood obesity. Along with Dr. San- cross-sectional data that show an association between chil-
dra Calvert of Georgetown University and Dr. Bradley Bond dren’s fitness and higher executive functioning. Similarly,
of University of San Diego, we use a social cognitive theory Chapter 21 provides an extensive literature review of games
framework to describe how gaming may both be implicated in that enhance information-processing skills, and a few health-
the obesity crisis and combat the obesity crisis by teaching oriented game systems (e.g., the Nintendo Wii) make the list.
healthy eating habits and encouraging physical activity. On- Yet still, changing behavior by improving executive function
line advergames are the focus of the healthy eating section, skills remains an untapped potential for games for health
and we describe a study conducted at Georgetown University designers. Will improving a gameplayer’s planning, orga-
where children were conditioned to choose healthier snacks nizing, strategizing, spatial management, and attention sub-
after their PacMan character was rewarded for eating virtual sequently transfer to healthier habits and impulse control
healthy snacks. Exergames are the medium discussed for the outside of the game?
physical activity section, with a focus on the social aspects that
may elicit higher involvement and therefore energy expendi-
Key Themes for Game Designers Interested
ture, as well as the potential for exergames to teach sports
in Changing Behaviors
skills that may be transferred to authentic play (although both
topics are underdeveloped in research). 1. Serious games are (often) boring
It is difficult to create a serious game that excites a child or
‘‘Perceptual and cognitive effects of action video game
adolescent, particularly because the market is flooded with
experience’’ (Chapter 3)
commercial products that are sophisticated and appealing
Dr. Shawn Green of the University of Wisconsin, Madi- but largely lack a serious games focus. Yet many elements
son, contributed a chapter on the utility of digital games to of the commercially successful games can be incorporated
promote cognitive health. Dr. Green is an excellent choice into serious games and games for health—including fantasy,
to provide this overview, given his and his colleague’s challenge, interactivity, agency/control, feedback, and im-
Dr. Daphne Bavelier’s extensive work documenting the mersion/flow. As noted in Chapter 5, aspects of digital games
cognitive outcomes of action (i.e., ‘‘first person shooter’’) would make for an ideal learning environment, including
videogame play. Although focused on cognitive change not lack of fear of failure, leveling up, acquiring mastery skills,
behavior change, Dr. Green’s overview of the literature and behavioral persistence that produces lengthy time on task.
provides foundational knowledge for games for health de- The formal features of gaming, which are the production
signers to understand the perceptually salient and attractive techniques used to engage attention and encourage inter-
aspects of digital games. Digital games immerse players with activity (Chapter 8), provide perceptual salience. Although
sensory information that leads to physiological and cognitive most often auditory or visual, salient techniques may also be
arousal. For instance, temporal and spatial unpredictability kinesthetic, such as in an exergame when the player’s body
and the demand for quick reaction time make games en- controls the on-screen activities. Chapter 19 provides hints to
gaging and challenging. It is important that the author dis- designers on how to craft a motivating game, such as by
suades educational game designers from using a ‘‘chocolate creating real-life simulations with a touch of fantasy, using
covered broccoli’’ approach—in other words, using ‘‘practice- leader boards to incentivize competition, and following the
makes-perfect’’ repetitive structure when teaching educa- MUSIC model of academic motivation (make learners feel
 BOOK REVIEW 321

eMpowered, make content Useful, make players Successful, with another player, or merely to pass the time. Under-
ensure they are Interested, and promote Caring within the standing the various reasons that players are drawn to games
play environment). The ‘‘take home’’ message is, if a game is can help designers to use a variety of engaging experiences
boring, it will not be played. that address each individual’s needs. Dr. Douglas Gentile of
Iowa State University and his colleagues (Chapter 9) further
2. Games should match player skills and interests describe learning theories from psychology, including ha-
bituation, classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and
As Dr. John Sherry of Michigan State University states
observational learning, that designers can use to elicit be-
eloquently in Chapter 8, games will be motivating when
havior change, at least while the player is actually playing
designers have balanced the cognitive demands within an
the game. Other theories explored in the book that are cer-
attractive, challenging environment that aligns with the
tainly relevant for games for health designers include social
player’s expectations and experiences. It is difficult to create
cognitive theory, social determination theory, and interest
gaming content that will match each individual player’s
theory—all used to tap into what motivates a player to want
skills. If a game is too hard or too easy, the player may be
to play and how gameplay affects a player’s outcomes re-
disillusioned and unmotivated to play. Although the author
lated to learning or behavior change.
focuses primarily on traditional learning outcomes, this ob-
servation may hold true for teaching sports skills, disease
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4. Can we really transfer skills from the game

self-management, or other health lessons. Taking into ac-
to the real world?
count the skill level and developmental stage of the player is
also essential to achieve what some call ‘‘pace matching’’— Nearly every chapter touches on the potential for digital
that the pace of learning in the game is appropriately chal- games to encourage transfer of skills from the game to the
lenging for the player (Chapter 9). Achieving the right real world. Dr. Gentile in Chapter 9 provides a particularly
challenge will involve a gradual progression in the game cogent description of the unconvincing evidence that transfer
toward goals (Chapter 5), as well as extensive opportunities is possible—and in fact is quite rarely achieved. If a specific
for practice and feedback as the player improves (Chapter 9). behavior change is desired, then the game should target these
Games should also seek to fulfill a variety of players’ specific skills for deliberate practice in order to expect
interests. Chapter 18 describes research indicating a variety transfer outside of the game, and even then there is little
of factors that may influence a player’s gaming experience. literature indicating that specific skills learned in the game
Players are embedded in an environment external to game- will transfer to behavior external to gaming (Chapter 7).
play—impacted by individual attributes like gender, age, Chapter 2 provides multiple tables to illustrate a taxonomy
personality, and mood as well as situational attributes like for transfer skills, which may be useful for designers to
relationships with other players, household or worksite rules consider how the game elements may lead to the ultimate
restricting gameplay, or limited access to games because of behavior goal. Chapter 13 by Dr. Debra Lieberman and
financial resources. The concluding chapter of the book colleagues at the University of California, Santa Barbara,
(Chapter 22) draws this point together well with the lens of provides an extensive discussion of different dimensions
Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, discussing how of transfer, as well as specific elements of videogames that
these individual factors will certainly influence a player’s can teach transfer, can motivate and build self-confidence in
gameplay experience and should not be ignored by designers the player, and can teach self-monitoring through continu-
or researchers. ous assessment and feedback (pp. 192–195). Designing games
that carry over across multiple media platforms may provide
3. ‘‘Let science inform design’’ further opportunities for transfer, particularly through coher-
ent narrative and convergent media that reinforce the health
The best line of this book, in my mind, is ‘‘let science
message or desired behavior (Chapter 14).
inform design,’’ written by Dr. Sherry (Chapter 8). Indeed,
In summary, as Dr. Gentile states in Chapter 9, ‘‘Games
game designers would benefit from immersing themselves in
are natural teachers, and gamers are natural learners’’ (p.
the scientific evidence covered in Learning by Playing, the
139). Now it is up to the game designers, with support from
Games for Health Journal, and other academic sources, to
researchers, to design games that can teach healthy habits
move beyond using personal experience or intuition to design
that a player will actually incorporate into daily life.
games. This tenet is echoed by Dr. James Bachhuber of the
Center for Children and Technology (Chapter 12): that aca-
demics build games based on psychological or pedagogical Address correspondence to:
theories, whereas designers often use their own ‘‘hunches’’ Amanda E. Staiano, PhD, MPP
in game design. Pennington Biomedical Research Center
A refreshing aspect of the book is it is steeped in theory— Louisiana State University
appropriate from an educational lens. Uses and gratification 6400 Perkins Road
theory focuses on how people use media to satisfy their needs Baton Rouge, LA 70808
(Chapter 8). For instance, a gameplayer may approach a
game for escapism, to relax, to form a social relationship E-mail: [email protected]
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