Using a conversational framework in mobile game based learning - assessment and evaluation

Abstract

Mobile language learning games usually only focus on spelling or out of context meaning for the entire dictionary, ignoring the role of an authentic environment. ‘Detective Alavi’ is an educational mobile game that provides a shared space for students to work collaboratively towards language learning in a narrative rich environment. This game motivates and preserves a conversation between learners and their teachers, and also between learners and learners, whilst being immersed in the story of the game. A seamless self-assessment scoring system in the game structure provides a less dominating environment for students to expose their weaknesses, and at the same time assists students to judge what skills they have learned and how much. This game has produced improvement in different cognitive processes and a deeper level of learning during the collaborative game play.