Games in Innovation Education: Simulated vs authentic gamified participation

This chapter examines the methodological challenges and perspectives of designing game-like scenarios for the implementation of innovation processes in school science education. It presents a design-based research study of a game-like innovation scenario designed for technology education for Danish public school students aged 13-15. Students play the role of company heads who develop intelligent music technology. This game-like learning environment was designed to develop innovation competencies through the simulation of a practical learning situation. The focus of the design was to include practices and tools from innovative professions and use game principles and elements to create a meaningful frame around the creative and innovative practices. This chapter describes the results of this design and discusses the perspective of games in innovation education in relation to the more recent trends in research of games designed for citizen science.