Learning in Role Playing: An Ethnographic Study on Chinese Children Towards a Novel Educational Game Model

This paper presents an experience-driven educational game model inspired by a relevant ethnographic study on preschool-aged children in China. The model is particularly designed for creating engaging game based learning experience. Through a four-week-long ethnographic fieldwork in kindergartens and children’s homes in China, the affinity between children’s cognitive world and fantasy play has been found. More specifically, self- actualization as an experience goal embedded in role-playing, a subcategory of fantasy play activities, demonstrate its strong potentials in bridging the serious educational purposes and captivating gaming experience. Based on the ethnographic findings and further the experience goal, a role-playing-based (RPB) educational game model is established. The model distinguishes itself by seamlessly incorporating educational purposes into a child’s second-life in the game setting and further promising the achievement of the child’s “flow state” in the gaming process. To showcase the implications for the RPB game model, a conceptual game design which intends to facilitate children in learning Chinese will be presented with more details.