Game based learning model for history courseware: A preliminary analysis

History learning is vital for students’ intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical development. Previous researches showed that there are problems in history learning among students. Students perceive history subject as difficult and very boring because they have to memorize facts besides understanding those facts, concepts, time and historical events. Interactive multimedia can increase students’ enthusiasm and make the teaching and learning process more interesting and make the history ‘alive’. Digital games, an interactive technology could foster learning process effectively and interestingly especially among young learners. In this paper, we present findings from a preliminary analysis on problems in history teaching and learning, students’ readiness for digital game-based learning and the capabilities of digital games for history learning. We did a document analysis of SPM performance report from year 2002 to 2005 and further investigation was carried out using questionnaire and interview, involving 582 form four students and fifteen history teachers from five secondary schools in Kajang, Selangor. The key findings from analysis are types of problems faced by the students in learning history and the potential of Game Based Learning (GBL) approach for the development of interactive courseware to increase students’ interest in learning history via an entertained experience. Therefore, we propose a GBL Model for the design of history courseware.