Games for Civic Learning

A Conceptual Framework and Agenda for Research and Design

Bibliographic Data

ID2409427
AuthorsChad Raphael (0000-0001-6331-1744, Santa Clara University, corresponding author), Christine Bachen, Christine M Bachen (Santa Clara University), Kathleen-M Lynn (Corporate Development and Volunteer Coordinator of MOUSE Squad of California (MSCA) Student Tech), Jessica Baldwin-Philippi (0000-0002-8664-6827), Kristen A Mckee (Google (United States))
Year2010
Volume5
Issue2
Pages199-235
Publication date2010-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueGames and Culture (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1555-4120 • E-ISSN: 1555-4139
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1555412009354728
OpenAlexW2152334951
LanguageEN
Citations received23
References cited31

Scholars, educators, and media designers are increasingly interested in whether and how digital games might contribute to civic learning. However, there are three main barriers to advancing understanding of games' potential for civic education: the current practices of formal schooling, a dearth of evidence about what kinds of games best inspire learning about public life, and divergent paradigms of civic engagement. In response, this article develops a conceptual framework for how games might foster civic learning of many kinds. The authors hypothesize that the most effective games for civic learning will be those that best integrate game play and content, that help players make connections between their individual actions and larger social structures, and that link ethical and expedient reasoning. This framework suggests an agenda for game design and research that could illuminate whether and how games can be most fruitfully incorporated into training and education for democratic citizenship and civic leadership

Citizenship · Citizenship education · Civic engagement · Civics · Conceptual framework · Democracy · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Digital Games and Media · Educational Games and Gamification · Literacy, Media, and Education

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