Game-Based Assessment (GBA) model

Research Method · All research methods
Evidence · 3 claims (2 for, 1 mixed) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 3 claims rest on one study

Description

The GBA model is a design strategy developed by the Games, Learning and Society group to capture evidence of player learning during game play rather than treating the game as a black box. It integrates four layers: "the content-model; the game flow design; and the GBA components of the semantic template and learning telemetry." The content model outlines learning goals, game-flow design builds interaction opportunities around them, the semantic template selects which click-stream data may indicate learning, and the learning telemetry layer collects and organizes that data into player profiles for analysis against pre-post measures. It draws on evidence-centered design, stealth assessment, and education data mining.

Accounts

• Game-Based Assessment (GBA) model: a four-layer design strategy embedding assessment in game design: The GBA model is a design strategy developed by the Games, Learning and Society group to capture evidence of player learning during game play rather than treating the game as a black box. It integrates four layers: "the content-model; the game flow design; and the GBA components of the semantic template and learning telemetry." The content model outlines learning goals, game-flow design builds interaction opportunities around them, the semantic template selects which click-stream data may indicate learning, and the learning telemetry layer collects and organizes that data into player profiles for analysis against pre-post measures. It draws on evidence-centered design, stealth assessment, and education data mining. (Richard Halverson et al. (2012))

Claims

• The number of far failures — cycles ended by incorrect collection and/or time running out — was negatively correlated with pre-post learning gains in Progenitor X [+M]
• After playing Progenitor X over three weeks, 39 middle and high school students showed a statistically significant 11% pre-post gain in stem-cell science content knowledge, in a one-group design with no comparison [+M]
• Number of cell-cycle starts and cell-cycle destroys in Progenitor X were negatively correlated with pre-post learning gains, while total cycle starts across the game were not [~W]

Related Research Methods

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Key Sources

• Richard Halverson, Elizabeth Owen, Nathan Wills, R. Benjamin Shapiro. (2012). Game-Based Assessment: An integrated model for capturing evidence of learning in play. ERIA Working Paper. http://www.eriainteractive.com/index.php

Page metadata

Field	Value
type	research-method
id	game-based-assessment-gba-model
title	Game-Based Assessment (GBA) model
description	The GBA model is a design strategy developed by the Games, Learning and Society group to capture evidence of player learning during game play rather than treating the game as a black box.
status	review
generated	by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-16
trust	unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content

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