ERIC Number: EJ903414
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Dec
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1556-1607
EISSN: N/A
Using Activity Theory to Understand Intergenerational Play: The Case of Family Quest
Siyahhan, Sinem; Barab, Sasha A.; Downton, Michael P.
International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, v5 n4 p415-432 Dec 2010
We implemented a five-week family program called "Family Quest" where parents and children ages 9 to 13 played Quest Atlantis, a multiuser 3D educational computer game, at a local after-school club for 90-minute sessions. We used activity theory as a conceptual and an analytical framework to study the nature of intergenerational play, the collaborative activity between parents and children in the context of role-playing virtual game environment, and the opportunities and challenges of bringing parents and children together around an educational video game. Our analyses of five parent-child dyads revealed that the nature of intergenerational play is different for different parent-child dyads, but has positive outcomes. Implications of the study for supporting family learning and bonding through video games are discussed. (Contains 3 figures, 2 tables and 1 footnote.)
Descriptors: Play, Intergenerational Programs, Family Programs, Parent Child Relationship, Informal Education, Program Effectiveness, Educational Technology, Computer Uses in Education, Cooperative Learning, Educational Games, Role Playing, Computer Simulation, Simulated Environment, Video Games, Youth Clubs, After School Programs
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A