A Survey of Students' Improved Mastery of Game Playing Skills Through Informal Online Game-Based Learning

The popularity of Massively Multiplayer Online Games has stimulated researchers to investigate the factors which contribute to the apparent success of learning communities and processes within those virtual environments, and whether those factors which contribute to that success can be transferred to pedagogical practice within formal learning environments. This paper reports a survey of the game playing behaviours of University students, including the frequency and nature of their online communication in relation to increasing mastery of game play. The survey found that respondents employ a range of methods to increase mastery of game playing skills, and that there was a significant relationship between frequency of online communication and level of mastery of game playing skills. More frequent online communication is associated with higher levels of mastery of game playing skills.