Individualistic versus competitive game-based e-learning

In conventional teaching there are three major goal structures: competitive learning, cooperative learning and individualistic learning. There has been much research into the effectiveness of these goal structures in conventional teaching. In regards to computer-aided learning, cooperative learning has been researched in game-based e-learning (GBEL), but competitive learning has mostly been overlooked. This research investigates the impact that competition has on the effectiveness of GBEL. The results of the experiment showed that when the e-learning game was played in a competitive context there was a lower learning improvement than if the game was played in a non-competitive, individualistic context.