View in EDS

A Systematic Review of Paper-Based and Digital Board Games for Collaborative Science Learning

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: A Systematic Review of Paper-Based and Digital Board Games for Collaborative Science Learning
Language: English
Authors: Mohd Kamal Othman (ORCID 0000-0001-5401-2515), Rahimah Mat, Kah Ching Sim
Source: Review of Education. 2025 13(3).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 53
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Educational Games, Computer Games, Cooperative Learning, Science Education, Educational Benefits, Learner Engagement, Skill Development, Science Instruction, Instructional Effectiveness
DOI: 10.1002/rev3.70107
ISSN: 2049-6613
Abstract: This study reviews the literature on board games for collaborative learning in science education, analysing 76 articles from 2000 to 2024. It examines research methodologies, data collection tools, sample sizes, and data analysis methods, focusing on subject areas and types of board games used. Key findings reveal a predominance of physical (paper-based) board games. Research methodologies were primarily quantitative, with descriptive analysis being the most common approach, typically employing varied sample sizes (median 48.5 participants). Evidence suggests that board games can enhance scientific knowledge acquisition, improve student engagement, and foster collaborative skills. However, the review identifies critical limitations in the existing literature, including a prevalence of small sample sizes, a lack of long-term effectiveness studies, and insufficient focus on specific game mechanisms. Future research should prioritise investigating game mechanisms, explicitly measuring collaborative learning outcomes, improving methodological rigour, and assessing long-term impacts on knowledge retention.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1491954
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1491954
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Systematic Review of Paper-Based and Digital Board Games for Collaborative Science Learning
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohd+Kamal+Othman%22">Mohd Kamal Othman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5401-2515">0000-0001-5401-2515</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rahimah+Mat%22">Rahimah Mat</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kah+Ching+Sim%22">Kah Ching Sim</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Review+of+Education%22"><i>Review of Education</i></searchLink>. 2025 13(3).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 53
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Games%22">Educational Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computer+Games%22">Computer Games</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cooperative+Learning%22">Cooperative Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Education%22">Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Benefits%22">Educational Benefits</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+Engagement%22">Learner Engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Instruction%22">Science Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1002/rev3.70107
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2049-6613
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study reviews the literature on board games for collaborative learning in science education, analysing 76 articles from 2000 to 2024. It examines research methodologies, data collection tools, sample sizes, and data analysis methods, focusing on subject areas and types of board games used. Key findings reveal a predominance of physical (paper-based) board games. Research methodologies were primarily quantitative, with descriptive analysis being the most common approach, typically employing varied sample sizes (median 48.5 participants). Evidence suggests that board games can enhance scientific knowledge acquisition, improve student engagement, and foster collaborative skills. However, the review identifies critical limitations in the existing literature, including a prevalence of small sample sizes, a lack of long-term effectiveness studies, and insufficient focus on specific game mechanisms. Future research should prioritise investigating game mechanisms, explicitly measuring collaborative learning outcomes, improving methodological rigour, and assessing long-term impacts on knowledge retention.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1491954
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1491954
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1002/rev3.70107
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 53
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Computer Games
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cooperative Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Benefits
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learner Engagement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Instruction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Systematic Review of Paper-Based and Digital Board Games for Collaborative Science Learning
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mohd Kamal Othman
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rahimah Mat
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Kah Ching Sim
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 2049-6613
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 13
            – Type: issue
              Value: 3
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Review of Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1