Educators of all age groupswhether they be elementary, secondary, or post-secondary-have long recognized that there is a strong connection between student engagement in the learning process and student success. Given the environment in which we teach today, with its growing diversity, larger class sizes, increased focus on high-stakes testing, and ever-expanding poverty levels, it is essential that teachers incorporate new teaching techniques into their own learning. Too that end, this paper reviews the purported benefits of educational games in the classroom setting as a tool for increasing student interest and motivation in the learning process. It also discusses the process and results of creating an original game designed to test the idea that games can increase learning effectiveness. 

Committee Chair: Steven Nourse.