Gamification of health education: Schoolchildren’s participation in the development of a serious game to promote health and learning
Abstract
Purpose
The use of modern technology has many challenges and risks. However, by collaborating with schoolchildren, ideas to effectively promote health and learning in school can be identified. The purpose of this paper is to examine how a participatory approach can deepen the understanding of how schoolchildren relate to and use gamification as a tool to promote physical activity and learning.
Design/methodology/approach
Inspired by the concept and process of empowerment and child participation, the methodological focus of this study was on consulting schoolchildren. During a two-month period, 18 schoolchildren (10-12 years old) participated in workshops to create game ideas that would motivate them to be physically active and learn in school.
Findings
The phenomenological analysis resulted in one main theme, “Playing games for fun to be the best I can be.” This consisted of four themes with two sub-themes each. The findings offer insights on how to increase physical activity and health education opportunities using serious games in school.
Originality/value
The knowledge gained provides gamification concepts and combinations of different technological applications to increase health and learning, as well as motivational aspects suggested by the schoolchildren. The findings are discussed with health promotion and health education in mind.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
First of all, the authors would like to thank the 18 school children who shared their ideas concerning the development of an intervention to increase physical activity and learning using serious games in school. Thank you to the classroom teacher, the principal and the parents for making this study possible. Luleå University of Technology, the Department of Health Sciences and the Department of Computer Science, Electrical and Space Engineering, and a grant from Enabling ICT supported this study.
Citation
Kostenius, C., Hallberg, J. and Lindqvist, A.-K. (2018), "Gamification of health education: Schoolchildren’s participation in the development of a serious game to promote health and learning", Health Education, Vol. 118 No. 4, pp. 354-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-10-2017-0055
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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