Research shows that teachers and educators struggle to act when conflict appears in the classroom. This article argues that (political) conflict should not be avoided or eradicated. Teachers should enable conflict and attend to their pupils in the process, in order to enable further understanding of each other and their differences, as part of…

This study focuses on pre-service teachers' experimentation with a game-modding process in a constructionist setting whilst they experimented with randomness embedded in wider socio-scientific issues that call for decision making under uncertainty. In this process, participants created 39 different game mods. Our observations of the participants…

The choice of instructional strategies, methods and techniques used by teachers is important in terms of establishing an effective learning environment. The purpose of this study is to examine the most common methods teachers use in their lessons and the factors that influence their choice of methods by using game theory. Game theory has different…

Escape rooms are "live-action team-based games where players discover clues, solve puzzles, and accomplish tasks in one or more rooms in order to accomplish a specific goal (usually escaping from the room) in a limited amount of time." Escape Rooms are one type of Escape Game, which are narrative-based challenges that use puzzles, tasks,…

In this paper, we derive the result of the classical gambler's ruin problem using elementary linear algebra. Moreover, the pedagogical advantage of the derivation is briefly discussed.

A literature review establishes a working definition of recreational mathematics: a type of play which is enjoyable and requires mathematical thinking or skills to engage with. Typically, it is accessible to a wide range of people and can be effectively used to motivate engagement with and develop understanding of mathematical ideas or concepts.…

The aim of this study is twofold. The first is to investigate the ability of secondary school students to understand the different distribution schemes and thus, indirectly, to contribute to the educational discussion and approach to be used for distribution problems so as to lessen reliance on the ubiquitous cross-multiplication rule in…

Student understanding and retention can be enhanced and improved by providing alternative learning activities and environments. Education theory recognizes the value of incorporating alternative activities (games, exercises and simulations) to stimulate student interest in the educational environment, enhance transfer of knowledge and improve…

Sex education is almost as sensitive a topic in public schooling as is the imposition of high-stakes testing. Both typically claim to be value-free contributions to the development of the student's cognitive, psychological and sometimes even moral maturity. Ironically each seems to short-change students in all three areas of development. The focus…

This paper attempts to summarize briefly the history of the Denison University project for learning through simulation, detailing the range of research, development, education and training, and evaluational efforts which resulted in the establishment of the Denison Simulation Center. The paper includes an explanation of the services currently…

This paper focuses on the simulation games developed at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, U.S.A., which deal with a variety of social processes or situations. The paper, given before game play, identifies some of their characteristic features and discusses the educational implementational implications of the ways in which they are seen to…

Offers examples of games and problem-solving strategies to help students solve word problems in mathematics. Emphasizes the importance of first considering the question the word problem poses and using game techniques to teach students how to transfer those same strategies to solve different math problems. (TJQ)

The meanings and interrelationships of simulation, gaming, programed learning and educational technology are considered. Three criteria are put forward for ascribing meanings to such terms. Gaming and simulation are found to have distinct but compatible properties. Program learning and educational technology are viewed as a process, not a product.…