Ascolta

Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Edificio 15, Palermo, 90128, Italy.

e-Mail: giorgiarita.defranches@unipa.it

Education

Scienze Pedagogiche (LM-85)

 

Current Positions

PhD Student in Health Promotion and Cognitive Sciences

 

 

PhD project title and a short abstract

PhD project title

SERIOUS GAMES IN INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION: BENEFITS AND IMPACTS ON REDUCING ANXIETY AND IMPROVING LEARNING

 

Abstract

This study explores the role of serious games in initial teacher education, specifically focusing on their benefits in reducing anxiety and enhancing learning outcomes. Teacher training often brings about challenges such as heightened anxiety and difficulty in time management during self-directed study. These issues are documented in existing literature, particularly among adult learners, and are linked to deficits in metacognitive competence, which includes emotional and cognitive self-regulation.

The project is guided by the hypothesis that incorporating active breaks (ABs), facilitated through serious games, can mitigate anxiety while improving metacognitive skills—such as sustained attention, focused concentration, and emotional regulation—which subsequently lead to improved learning.

Methodologically, the project adopts educational design research (EDR), employing both qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate the effectiveness of serious games as tools for active breaks. The study will be conducted through a quasi-experimental design, comparing pre- and post-intervention results between experimental and control groups.

Expected outcomes include the creation of open-access materials that enable the replication of the program in diverse educational contexts. The findings are expected to have significant educational implications, contributing to better teaching practices and enhanced learning for future educators.

 

Supervisor: Prof.ssa Elif Gulbay

 

Curriculum Vitae - ITA/ENG

 

Main research areas of interest

-           Innovative Teaching

-           Initial Teacher Education

-           Serious Games

-           Active Breaks

-           Educational Technologies

 

Researcher ID

https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4681-928X