Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2015
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Abstract
Digital games and simulations (DG&S) could help mitigate inequities in civic education and participation, which are found in many contemporary democracies. Yet incorporating DG&S into the curriculum may reinforce or introduce inequities for students who are less engaged by game-based learning. A quasi-experimental study of 301 U.S. high school students in social studies classes examined whether prior academic performance, civic engagement, civic game play experience and gender affected how (and which) students benefit from playing a life simulation game. Dependent variables included several civic dispositions: justice-oriented citizenship norms and interest in politics, news, and global issues. The simulation game especially enhanced political interest among lower performing students and those with fewer informational resources. Although prior civic activity and civic gaming experience provided advantages for some outcomes, for the most part, gender did not. We conclude that life simulation games have the potential to advance both equity and excellence in civic education, engaging males and females, and advantaged and disadvantaged students, and we theorize about the reasons why.
Recommended Citation
Bachen, C. M., Hernández-Ramos, P. F., Raphael, C., & Waldron, A. (2015). Civic play and civic gaps: Can life simulation games advance educational equity? Journal of Information Technology & Politics, 12, 378-395.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19331681.2015.1101038
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Educational Technology Commons, Social Justice Commons
Comments
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Information Technology & Politics in November 2015, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/19331681.2015.1101038.