Title: Digital games for entrepreneurial learning, innovation and creativity: examples and evaluation criteria

Authors: Panagiotis Tragazikis; Sotiris Kirginas; Dimitris Gouscos

Addresses: Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Education and the Mass Media, University of Athens, 5 Stadiou Str, 10562 Athens, Greece. ' Laboratory of New Technologies in Communication, Education and the Mass Media, University of Athens, 5 Stadiou Str, 10562 Athens, Greece. ' Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Athens, 5 Stadiou Str, 10562 Athens, Greece

Abstract: This paper introduces; a) some good examples of digital games freely available on the web that can be used as educational tools supporting entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity skills; b) an evaluation framework for identifying such examples. To this end, in the first part of the paper, indicative examples are provided for digital games purposed for entertainment and/or learning, drawn from the broad array of online available business games. In the second part of the paper, the examples provided are evaluated along three dimensions: a generic dimension related to digital-games based learning (DGBL) aspects; and two more specific dimensions, focused on the innovation/creativity and entrepreneurship skills that can be encouraged (and gradually exercised and learnt) through gameplay. The final objective of this evaluation is twofold: firstly, to locate similarities, differences, strengths and weaknesses of the games currently available, that can help identify specific needs for digital games-based entrepreneurial learning material; and secondly, to provide a set of findings and issues that need to be considered while developing (or repurposing) digital games for entrepreneurial learning.

Keywords: digital games; game-based learning; DGBL; game-based teaching; evaluation; entrepreneurial learning; innovation skills; creativity skills; entrepreneurship education; online games; business games.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2012.047564

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.314 - 337

Published online: 23 Aug 2014 *

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