This learning and teaching project aimed at children 9 to 12 years old uses an online role-playing game to teach younger children about learning and motivation. Users travel through virtual villages and locate and complete quests.

[Quest Atlantis] is a good example of an immersive environment. Immersion into the environment and the problems within the environment result in an incredibly high level of engagement. I would say there are two criteria for motivation: Does it engage the learner, and does the learner persist in engagement because of the technology? Gaming elements can be embedded in the tasks, and this makes it very effective.

Quote excerpted from Howard, B. C. (2008, in press). Common Features and Design Principles Found in Exemplary Educational Technologies. International Journal of Information & Communication Technology Education, Vol. 4, No. 4.