Exploring the evolutionary process in undergraduate Biology through Serious Educational Games: A case study on supplanting laboratory experiences

Exploring the evolutionary process in undergraduate Biology through Serious Educational Games: A case study on supplanting laboratory experiences

Leonard Annetta , Denise M.Bressler , Mark Newton & Kyle Summers

Issue: Vol. 7 No. 4 2026 Article 5 pp. 411 – 422
DOI : https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026745 Published online 21st May 2026.

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ABSTRACT

Undergraduate science courses often lack engaging, immersive, and interactive educational materials for students. Simulated games have the potential to substitute science labs for students who cannot experience bench or field science. The purpose of this study was to improve the educational experience and learning outcomes for undergraduate students in evolutionary biology by ascertaining the extent to which two different Serious Educational Games, used as a replacement for science labs, could affect engagement and learning of the required science content, with the underlying content grounded in socioscientific issues. One game focused on evolution and the other on mimicry. Participants were interviewed after their gameplay experience using a qualitative research design. Six themes and five patterns were derived from the interview data. Results suggest students had a high level of engagement and agency during gameplay and ultimately changed their perceptions of the science content embedded in the simulation game. A dynamic and embodied learning experience can transform even traditional teaching and learning of difficult content into engaged science learning for all students through games in undergraduate science courses.This study provides a foundation for future curricular and game design for STEM courses, both in person and at distance.

Keywords: Serious Educational Games, Evolution, Mimicry, Undergraduate, Science, Qualitative

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AUTHOR(S)

Dr. Len Annetta is the Dean of the Zucker Family School of Education and Zucker Chair of Entrepreneurial Education Leadership at The Citadel. Prior to this role, he was the Taft Distinguished Professor of Science Education at East Carolina University. Dr Annetta’s research has focused on innovative technologies and the effect of Serious Educational Games on science learning of teachers and students in underserved populations. He has been awarded over $19 million as lead Principal Investigator for his research to date and has won numerous awards and honors for his work.

Dr. Denise Bressler is an educational researcher and reformer. For over twenty years, Denise has been developing and researching ways to make learning engaging for all students. She is driven by a passion to make learning exciting and equitable for everyone. Her new book, Unlearning the Ropes: The Benefits of Rethinking What School Teaches You, has been praised by New York Times Bestselling author William Deresiewicz and popular educational keynote speaker Gary Stager. Denise received her A.B. from Princeton and her PhD from Lehigh University. She is a seasoned snowboarder who loves coffee and jigsaw puzzles. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two children.

Dr. Mark Newton is an Associate Professor of Teacher Education and serves as the Director of the Anita Zucker Institute for Entrepreneurial Educational Leadership at The Citadel. Mark’s research has focused on integrating a Socioscientific Issues approach within immersive place-based learning environments. Some of this research was recognized in 2024 at the Eurasia EduCon and the Association for Science Teacher Education as the best research papers. Additionally, Dr. Newton was the recipient of the 2024 East Carolina University Scholar-Teacher Award. Prior to The Citadel, Dr. Newton held appointments at Chico State University and East Carolina University.

Dr. Kyle Summers has broad interests in evolution, particularly evolutionary ecology and evolutionary genetics. My students and I have carried out research on reproductive strategies and larval life history in frogs. Dr. Summers is also interested in evolutionary approaches to human health and behavior. Evolutionary biology is highly relevant to many issues crucial to human health and disease, yet few medical researchers take an evolutionary perspective.

TO CITE ARTICLE

Annetta, Leonard, Denise M. Bressler; Mark Newton & Kyle Summers. “Exploring the evolutionary process in Undergraduate Biology through Serious Educational Games: A case study on supplanting laboratory experiences.” Journal of Education and Learning Technology 7, no.4 (2026): 411 – 422. https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2026745