I Learn History with the Game "Sarıkamış White Heroes"

Abstract

The Sarıkamış Operation, one of the most significant events in Turkish history, took place in December 1914 as part of the Caucasus Front during World War I (1914–1918), where the Ottoman Empire fought against Russia. Aiming to raise awareness of this operation and to make historical learning more engaging and motivating, an educational game titled “Sarıkamış: White Heroes” was developed. The game seeks to convey knowledge about the Caucasus Front and the Sarıkamış Operation through gamification, while also integrating general cultural topics to stimulate students’ curiosity and motivation.

A qualitative research design was employed, and purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected from 38 gifted fifth-grade students attending a science and art center who volunteered to participate in the study. Semi-structured interview questions, developed based on expert opinion, were used to gather data, which were analyzed using content analysis.

Observations during gameplay revealed students’ competitive attitudes and high levels of excitement. Post-game reflections indicated that students gained knowledge about historical and cultural topics. Most participants described the game as engaging and educational, expressed enjoyment, and stated they would recommend it to others.