Identifying and ranking factors in evaluating the Web 2.0-based educational simulation games

Abstract

Today, modern methods of training are developed with the aid of information technology to help learners better understand the circumstances of real organizations and increase the power of relating between classroom theoretical concepts and practical concepts in the real world. Training by simulation games is one of the training tools that due to the rapid development of network technology is significantly developed and if used correctly highly influences teaching and learning. The general aim of this research is to identify and rank the evaluation factors of training simulation games for optimum designing or selecting the best simulation game in training. For this purpose after reviewing the literature and studying the models and frameworks presented about the development and design of serious and simulation games, their main elements and components were identified. Then by using The Delphi method and opinions of 15 Training and simulation games experts, Factors that had the greatest deal of emphasis were presented in the form of 3 Psychological, Educational, and Technical dimensions and 30 evaluation factors and after comparing and rating the factors by the experts the answers were analyzed and ranked. Ranking the evaluation factors in this research shows that technical and educational factors had higher importance in the experts' view than the psychological factors. Also the high rank of web2.0 factors among the technical factors shows the high importance of educational simulation games in web context 2.0 in experts' view.