Media Education through Digital Games: A Review on Design and Factors Influencing Learning Performance

In the past two decades, a considerable amount of research has focused on digital games as part of media education. Digital game-based learning (DGBL) is identified as a potential pedagogical approach to enhance learning in the digital era. In light of the increased number of academic articles on educational games, this study considers the development and the factors that influence learning performance among children by providing a thematic review of the literature available on DGBL. Findings show that despite following developmental standard procedures, a distinct perspective between the game designer and the educator is essential. Three major approaches have been identified, namely the learner-centered, the game-centered and the model approaches. Learning processes that use digital games show empirically positive results as well as the great influence in terms of intrinsic motivation, game features and overall learning experience.