GETOLS: Game Embedded Testing of Learning Strategies

Learning strategies are typically tested in rather conventional test settings, using questionnaires or observation as a method of information acquisition. However, such conventional test settings are far from the test taker´s everyday life situation and might therefore evoke stress. Embedding a learning strategies test into an educational computer game, provides several advantages over the conventional testing procedure: The test takers can stay in their familiar learning environment and even learn something during the process of being tested. We conducted an explorative study by testing 24 pupils, comparing the outcome of a conventional learning strategies test conducted by a psychologist with the results obtained by our GETOLS method. The high similarity of results strongly supports our approach.