G.A.M.E. Games Autonomy Motivation & Education

This thesis reviews and utilizes concepts from cognitive psychology developmental psychology and game design to bring forth a number of design principles for educational games that may improve students' motivation to learn. Its main contribution is a novel approach to serious game design namely envisioning play and learning as a restructuring practice. This change of perspective from a formal game design approach (focused on rules and regulations) towards a more activity-centered approach (focused on process and style) may help designers to leverage the motivational potential of games in order to make education more engaging to students.