This thesis reviews and utilizes concepts from cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and game design to bring forth a number of design principles for educational games that may improve students' motivation to learn. Its main contribution is a novel approach to serious game design, namely envisioning play and learning as a restructuring practice. This change of perspective, from a formal game design...

This thesis reviews and utilizes concepts from cognitive psychology, developmental psychology and game design to bring forth a number of design principles for educational games that may improve students' motivation to learn. Its main contribution is a novel approach to serious game design, namely envisioning play and learning as a restructuring practice. This change of perspective, from a formal game design approach (focused on rules and regulations) towards a more activity-centered approach (focused on process and style), may help designers to leverage the motivational potential of games, in order to make education more engaging to students.