Mobile Gaming Experience and Co-Design for Kids: Learn German With Mr. Hut

Recently, game-based learning and mobile learning have become increasingly important for their significant contribution to education. Game-based learning (GBL) environment combines appropriate gaming technology and didactic strategies, in order to provide engaging learning experiences. In addition, interactive mobile learning provides learners with deeper and meaningful learning experiences, which are extremely effective for language learning. As some important researches and learning theories show, innovation in learning is also represented by engaging learners into game design processes, in order to enhance learning through a stimulating and motivating strategy. The aim of the purposed research is to prove the effectiveness of an innovative strategy of learning, combining Mobile-GBL with a co-design methodology. Our research focuses particularly on foreign language learning. In order to provide a deeply involving learning experience, a co-design methodology was adopted for the development of the game “Learn German with Mr. Hut”. In addition to that, the videogame was built with HTML5. The purposed game immerses 6 to 12-year-old learners in educational challenges focusing on German language learning. The focus group has been engaged in all the phases of the project. During the first phase, co-design sessions aimed to engage pupils into the design process of the game. After the development of the game, the focus group was engaged to test the game. This experiment took place in some Italian schools. The last phase consisted in evaluating questionnaires, which allowed pupils to express their opinions and views about the game. The results of our research reveal the effectiveness of a combined learning strategy, involving co-design methodology and a mobile game-based learning environment. The analysis of the scores of the game highlights the efficacy of our game for learning and teaching German, suggesting how foreign language learning can be successfully enacted in mobile game-based learning environment combined with a co-design methodology.