The role of fun in learning

Abstract

Fun is often considered as an essential element of learning, especially among researchers in gamification and child-computer interaction. Accordingly, enjoyment of a (non-formal) learning activity or game is frequently an important design and evaluation criteria. However, while it is often declared that learning games and playful learning activities are fun for children, empirical evidence is hard to come by as measuring fun is not straightforward. Hence, to start my PhD research, I have defined fun and designed and validated a measurement tool (FunQ) for the quantitative assessment of fun. Thereafter, by using FunQ I have investigated the effect of fun on learning. My research results indicate that fun has a positive and significant effect on learning and it also has a significant indirect positive effect on learning across influencing students' attitude about the topic. In my next study, I am planning to do an intervention to see how teachers can support the experienced fun while learning, and by this, enhance students’ learning experience and their level of learning. My aim is to turn research into practice by providing teachers with guidelines for a more fun and more effective learning.