Publicação
Spell: A cooperative language learning board game for children
| Resumo: | Faced with an increasingly globalized world, there is a growing demand for effective second-language learning, particularly among children. In this context, game-based learning offers new opportunities for combining education and play. This research explores how tabletop game design can facilitate the acquisition of English as a second language for children aged six and older. This study aims to understand how a tabletop learning game can be designed to enhance second language development while also investigating the role of play-based learning in motivating and engaging young learners and examining the social benefits of face-to-face interaction in analog games. This project follows a research-through-design methodology, beginning with a theoretical framework drawing from language acquisition theory, learning theory, and game design. This is followed by a comparative analysis of existing educational games, iterative prototyping, and playtesting sessions with children. The outcome of the research is the development of Spell, a tabletop game that uses narrative, collaboration, hidden information, and vocabulary challenges to foster language learning in an engaging, playful environment. |
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| Autores principais: | Schäper, Leonie |
| Assunto: | Visual design Game design theory Language acquisition Play-based learning Tabletop games |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Instituto de Arte, Design e Empresa - Universitário |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Instituto de Arte, Design e Empresa - Universitário |
| Resumo: | Faced with an increasingly globalized world, there is a growing demand for effective second-language learning, particularly among children. In this context, game-based learning offers new opportunities for combining education and play. This research explores how tabletop game design can facilitate the acquisition of English as a second language for children aged six and older. This study aims to understand how a tabletop learning game can be designed to enhance second language development while also investigating the role of play-based learning in motivating and engaging young learners and examining the social benefits of face-to-face interaction in analog games. This project follows a research-through-design methodology, beginning with a theoretical framework drawing from language acquisition theory, learning theory, and game design. This is followed by a comparative analysis of existing educational games, iterative prototyping, and playtesting sessions with children. The outcome of the research is the development of Spell, a tabletop game that uses narrative, collaboration, hidden information, and vocabulary challenges to foster language learning in an engaging, playful environment. |
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