Online learning with games: The university of the Philippines Open University setting

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has looked into the incorporation of virtual environments and serious games as learning tools in its academic programs. Ideas and exploratory work abound in many educational institutions. But there are challenges that must be overcome, in order to gain acceptance. A survey in the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) program revealed three basic points. First, with a very small number of exceptions, students in the program are already knowledgeable with a variety of video games. Second, access to high quality equipment and Internet connectivity is a problem for some learners in UPOU. Lastly, there remains a small, but significant group of people expressing skepticism over the use of games in their courses. The deployment of an online pilot course on the use of games in education highlighted the above mentioned issues. But satisfactory learning outcomes were still achieved through finding solutions to the issues, particularly with the provision of multiple game options to achieve learning objectives and the establishment of a peer support group within the class that can help students not just with technical, but also gameplay issues. Despite the apparent success, employment techniques must continue to be refined. A model that can specially cater to the situation UPOU deals with can also be invaluable when attempting to adopt games as a learning tool in more courses. In relation, as this focused on students, succeeding studies should also pay more attention to the side of the faculty. Lastly, the apparent skepticism of some students allude to the need for nurturing a gaming culture within the UPOU community, or at least among those who will be affected should the university adopt games more pervasively. This study aims to find ways to address these issues.