Skip to main content
Log in

Word Score: A serious vocabulary game for primary school underachievers

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper describes a study of “Word Score”, a serious game designed to extend the vocabulary of pupils in upper primary school in the Netherlands. Word Score was used in one school community as part of the national project “Educational Time Extension” (ETE). In ETE class time is extended beyond normal school hours with the aim of improving the learning outcomes of under-performing pupils. The study showed that the use of Word Score can be effective during ETE. The vocabulary of the pupils who played the game outside the regular class time significantly increased. The experiences of both pupils and teachers were very positive. The pupils liked playing Word Score and the teachers were very enthusiastic about the game and the pupils’ results.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bom, M. V. (2011). Het ontwerpen van een educatieve taalgame [The design of a educational language game]. Enschede: University of Twente.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyan, A., & Sherry, J. L. (2011). The challenge in creating games for education: aligning mental models with game models. Child Development Perspectives, 5(2), 82–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Vellis, R. F. (2003). Scale development: Theory and applications. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heitink, M., Fisser, P., Bom, M., & Voogt, J. (2012). Het effect van de serious game Taaltreffers 2 op de woordenschat van leerlingen in groep 6, 7 en 8 [The effect of serious game Word Score 2 on the vocabulary of pupils in grade 4, 5 and 6]. Zoetermeer: Kennisnet.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirumi, A., Appelman, B., Rieber, L., & Van Eck, R. (2010). Preparing instructional designers for game-based learning: part 2. TechTrends, 54(4), 19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juul, J. (2003). Half Real. Video games between real rules and fictional worlds. PhD dissertation. Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen.

  • Kebritchi, M., & Hirumi, A. (2008). Examining the pedagogical foundations of modern educational computer games. Computers in Education, 51, 1729–1743.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirriemuir, J., & McFarlane, A. (2004). Literature review in games and learning. Bristol: NESTA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leemkuil, H. H. (2006). Is it all in the game?: Learner support in an educational knowledge management simulation game. Enschede: University of Twente.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, K. K., & Hannafin, R. D. (2003). Using web-based computer games to meet the demands of today’s high-stakes testing: a mixed-methods inquiry. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 35(4), 459–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, B. (2009). Learning English through serious games–reflections on teacher and learner performance. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 5940, 82–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit, M. (2008). Evaluatieonderzoek naar de implementatie van een educatieve taalgame in de bovenbouw van de basisschool [Evaluation of the implementation of a language game in primary schools]. Enschede: University of Twente.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhallen, M., & Verhallen, S. (1994). Woorden leren, woorden onderwijzen [Learning words, teaching words]. Hoevelaken: CPS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verloop, N., & Lowyck, J. (red.) (2003). Onderwijskunde. Een kennisbasis voor professionals [Educational Science, a knowledge base for professionals]. Groningen/Houten:Wolters-Noordhoff.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Petra Fisser.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fisser, P., Voogt, J. & Bom, M. Word Score: A serious vocabulary game for primary school underachievers. Educ Inf Technol 18, 165–178 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-012-9231-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-012-9231-y

Keywords

Navigation