Changing Science Classroom Discourse toward Doing Science: The Design of a Game-based Learning Curriculum

Abstract

This paper presents a game-based learning program designed to foster classroom discourse toward doing science with language. Both schools and professional science communities practice science, but the beliefs guiding their practices and discourse patterns are significantly different. In schools, students talk about science in order to learn the ready-made science. In professional science communities, scientists use and develop language as tools for constructing scientific knowledge. In order to transform the discourse practice in the mainstream science classrooms as doing science with language, we design the Legends of Alkhimia 3D role-playing game and curriculum.