Games and Gamification in Sustainability Learning

Abstract

This chapter explores the intricate socio-political-cultural factors affecting Thai design students' learning and examines the potential of games and gamification in sustainability learning as an unconventional design pedagogical approach in Thai higher education. This chapter's heart is an extensive participatory action research case study from the sustainable design course of two universities in Bangkok. The project allows students to learn from game design to raise awareness of sustainability-related issues and use the games to enhance their sustainability learning through peer interactions. Games and gamification can assist Thai design students in obtaining skills essential to education for sustainable development while reducing power distance and uncertainty avoidance among classroom members. Research findings also reveal the complex relationships between game-based pedagogical practice and cultural characteristics, such as fun-pleasure orientation and interdependence orientation.