This study examined 57 learners' emotions (i.e., joy, anger, confusion, frustration) as they engaged with scientific content while learning about microbiology with Crystal Island, a game-based learning environment (GBLE). Measures of learners' prior knowledge, in-game text comprehension, facial expressions of emotion, and posttest reading…

Game-based learning environments (GBLEs) focus on enhancing learning by providing learners with various representations of information (e.g., text, diagrams, etc.) while allowing full autonomy, or control over their actions. Challenges arise as research shows that learners inaccurately use cognitive and metacognitive processes when given full…

Reflection is critical for adolescents' problem solving and learning in game-based learning environments (GBLEs). Yet challenges exist in the literature because most studies lack a theoretical perspective and clear operational definition to inform how and when reflection should be scaffolded during game-based learning. In this paper, we address…