Futbol hakemleri̇ i̇çi̇n futbol oyun kurallarının eği̇ti̇mi̇ amaçlı oyun tabanlı öğrenme çerçevesi̇

Digital game-based learning environments provide emerging opportunities to overcome learning barriers by combining newly developed technologies, and traditional game design. Many scholars are actively pursuing serious gaming research, and adopting interactive learning techniques to complement classroom training. Serious games frequently focus on playful activities, which are connected with games and learning, and commonly concerned with the educational nature in a specific field. One particular example is that the FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association), which spends a significant amount of money on training referees annually (e.g. 40 million US dollars for 60 referees during the World Cup 2010). In addition, Turkish Football Federation is investing on the education and training of football referees about the football game rules (i.e. the Laws of the Game). However, no previous study has been conducted to reveal the importance of games to teach the football game rules to Turkish football referees. This study proposes a mixed-method research approach to design a game-based learning framework particularly for improving the learning process of the football referees in Turkey. To evaluate the game and play activities of our approach, firstly, a paper-based prototype was designed and play-tested by a group of expert reviewers. Secondly, a serious game was developed, and tested on a group of referee candidates. The examination results of referees were compared with two sample t-test for the referees, who worked with traditional methods and for those who worked with the developed tool. The findings of the current study confirmed that a game-based learning environment has a lot of merits over paper-based approaches.