Learning by doing: Integrating a serious game in a MOOC to promote new skills

(“Experience Track”, M.Thirouard, O.Bernaert, L.Dhorne, S.Bianchi, L.Pidol -IFP School-, R.Crepon -aPi-learning-, Y.Petit -UNOW-, eMOOCs2015 conference, Mons / Belgium, 05/20/2015)

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Playing is associated to pleasure and fun whereas academic learning is associated to effort and hard work. Many research has shown the benefits of introducing games in academic teaching as a way to improve learning. Curiosity is also important when learning. Indeed, when curiosity is awakened, people learn without resistance. In order to improve the learning experience, a serious game was integrated in a MOOC. The use of a serious game as a form of evaluation in a MOOC is a true innovation in education: students would play a video game where different situations were presented and they would solve problems related to the courses.
Innovating in education is certainly a challenge. Although integrating a serious game in the MOOC platform needed a considerable amount of technical effort, it was an absolute success: the completion rate was high (31%) with a great percentage of young students (49%) following the courses.

Learning by doing: Integrating a serious game in a MOOC to promote new skills