Some of the most interesting stuff presented at the recent DiGRA Scotland day was from Derek Robertson from Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS). Derek’s blog is the Consolarium, which is regularly updated. The focus is on games-based learning in Scotland, but included updates on studies of much wider interest.
The particular example I was most impressed by on the day was a study on ways of improving childrens arithmetic performance which compared Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training and Brain Gym (a movement exercise program which aims to help stimulate students. The exercise bit seems to work, though the pseudo-science behind it has been criticized, however. See here). A third, control, group was also assessed – making the study reasonably rigorous, although some issues over equivalence are noted in the case study, which you can find here. (Also look out for other GBL projects – one featuring Guitar Hero!)