Digital game-based learning: A case study of a digital educational game in Hong Kong

Anna Wing-bo Tso and Janet Man-ying Lau
The Open University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong SAR, China

This paper examines how the use of digital games in mathematics education can be beneficial to learning, if not more successful than traditional learning. With a view to helping local Hong Kong primary school students to learn compass directions and bearings, Janet Lau, an educational game designer, developed a free, open-for-all digital game package that assists young students in learning location, direction and distance measurement on maps. In order to find out how useful digital game-based learning is to young learners, in May 2015, we invited 40 Primary 4 to Primary 6 Hong Kong students to participate in a case study. From the post-experiment survey and test performance, it was found that students in the experimental group showed more interest, curiosity and motivation in the learning process. In this paper, we analyse and discuss how game players achieve positive results and become active learners in a stress-free learning environment.