Dynamics between Disturbances and Motivations in Educational Mobile Games

Abstract

Understanding engagement in games provides great opportunities for developing motivating educational games. However, even good games may induce disturbances on the learner. Therefore, we go further than presenting only results and discussion related to the motivation aspects and disturbance factors of the playing experience in UFractions (Ubiquitous fractions) storytelling mobile game. Namely, we define the dynamics between these two important game features. Sample of the case study was 305 middle school pupils in South Africa, Finland, and Mozambique.

Guidelines for game developers, users and educators were derived from the interplay of disturbance factors and motivations. Furthermore, we defined six different learning zones deriving from disturbances the player is facing and the player’s motivation level.