Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on New Trends in Teaching and Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Using Digital Learning Games in Primary Schools: A Literature Review
Dr. Oğuz Ak
ABSTRACT:
Digital learning games have become increasingly popular in primary education due to their potential to engage and motivate students. When well-designed, these games can offer numerous educational benefits. However, the immersive nature of digital games also raises concerns, particularly regarding issues such as game addiction. This literature review aims to address two key questions: (1) Do recent studies on digital learning games demonstrate educational benefits for primary school students? and (2) Do these studies report any negative effects or problems associated with digital game use in this age group? To explore these questions, a comprehensive review was conducted using the “Web of Science” database, focusing on articles published between 2020 and 2024. From an initial set of 227 articles, 53 were reviewed and 25 found relevant for this analysis. The review found that nearly all the selected studies reported educational and motivational benefits of digital learning games. However, only a few studies addressed negative perceptions or risks, with some suggesting that alternative methods could be more effective in certain contexts. It can be concluded that, when digital games are carefully designed and selected for educational purposes in primary schools, researchers are likely to have fewer concerns about potential negative effects. Some studies have investigated and recommended specific design elements for learning games, such as aesthetics, mechanics, feedback types, and application methodologies. While these studies suggest that well-designed games offer considerable benefits, further research is necessary to enhance the effective use of digital learning games and to address any remaining issues.
keywords: Game-based learning, primary education, literature review, motivation, educational benefits