Gee talks about the principles of video games, but I believe these principles can be applied to non-digital games (and game-like teaching exercises) as well.

Gee’s Good Video Games and Good Learning

https://ustl.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2009/12/Good_Learning.pdf

Prensky, who was the keynote speaker at the last CUNY General Education conference, argues that our students’ physical MINDS and LEARNING PATTERNS have changed, and we educators need to get with the program.

Prensky’s Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, part 1

https://ustl.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2009/12/Prensky-Digital-Natives-Digital-Immigrants-Part1.pdf

Prensky’s Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, part 2

https://ustl.commons.gc.cuny.edu/files/2009/12/Prensky-Digital-Natives-Digital-Immigrants-Part2.pdf

“So the suggestion I leave you with is not “use games in school”–though that’s a good idea–but: How can we make learning… more game-like in the sense of using the… learning principles young people see in good games every day…?” (James Gee)

–Joe Bisz and Roz Myers