A Method for the Evaluation of the Quality of Games for Computing Education

Resumo

Educational games have been used as an instructional strategy expecting to contribute to students learning, motivation, engagement, etc. However, in order to confirm these expected benefits, it is important to systematically evaluate such games. In this regard, the objective of this research is to develop and evaluate an evaluation method (MEEGA+) providing comprehensive support for evaluations of games used for computing education. The MEEGA+ method has been systematically developed and evaluated following a rigorous research methodology. Results of a reliability and validity analysis, as well as based on the perspective of 19 experts in educational games, indicate that the MEEGA+ is a valid and reliable method and provides systematic support for game evaluations. It can be used by game creators, instructors and researchers in order to evaluate games as a basis for their improvement and effective and efficient adoption in practice for computing education.