1,721,061 research outputs found
Values-based Transformative Games: From the Physical to the Digital
Full text linkIn the context of game-based learning, learning is often limited to basic literacies such as math and reading, even though several educational institutions acknowledge the importance of Values education. In this paper we discuss how to bring values into a game. We discuss the design and implementation of a customisable version of the popular board game, Snakes and Ladders to teach values to the young (ages 0-8). Values refer to “a centrally held, enduring belief which guides actions and judgements across specific situations…”. This implies that there is an inherent element of choice or decision-making in demonstrating one's values. We discuss the process of adapting the Snakes and Ladders board game to a physical artefact by applying a Values-based Transformative Games Design Model, and further digitizing the artefact to make it more accessible. A prototype of the digital artefact is presented to demonstrate the concept. The Insider Action Game Design Research methodology is applied to create a physical artefact given the researcher's involvement in volunteer work on values-based education for the young. The findings of this research are of immediate benefit to those wishing to introduce a digitized version of a simple and popular board game to teach values to young children. The values-based questions used in the game are easy to adapt so the game has the potential to be extended to various other basic literacies, as well as different types of values such as sustainability and cultural values. The Values-based Transformative Games design model can also be adapted and improved with further research.</p
Vocabulary Acquisition in New and Learned Contexts Using Immersive Virtual Reality
Full text linkVocabulary acquisition is important for learning a language. Language learners need multiple encounters with a word to add unknown word aspects to their word knowledge or to strengthen their knowledge of previously learned word aspects. Combining vocabulary acquisition with immersive virtual reality (IVR) makes it possible to have such multiple encounters. In IVR, objects representing target words can be shown in the same virtual environment as they were first encountered (learned context), but also in a new virtual environment (new context). To investigate learning words in either a new or learned context in IVR we built Wics (words in context system). We used Wics to carry out an experiment in which participants could learn 32 Japanese words, represented by 3D objects, in three sessions. In the second and third learning session all words were shown in either a new context, with a changed environment and a changed visual representation of the word objects, or a learned context, where only the placement of the objects was changed. Performance scores for an immediate and a delayed post-test (one week later) revealed no significant differences in performance between conditions. However, there was a tendency towards participants spending more time on learning the words in the learned context condition. We believe Wics to be the first IVR system to provide learners with multiple learning sessions to provide multiple encounters with the same words in different contexts, where learners have control over their own explorative learning, and where the post-tests are inside IVR.</p
Confidence in Movement-Based Game Design Facilitation: Learning From a Novice Design Facilitator
Full text linkSeveral movement-based and embodied design methods have been developed to supplement existing game design methods. Facilitating movement-based design methods is a practice that most game designers must master. Facilitation involves taking on several responsibilities and roles to ensure processes and activities follow the design project's principal values. For instance, the facilitator must possess design expertise and social awareness, be a direction setter and trust builder, facilitate stage engagement and mood, energise for commitment, and maintain a playful attitude. The many responsibilities and significant involvement will inevitably affect the facilitator, who enters an affective state facilitating the design activities. Through a phenomenological comparative analysis, this study explores how novice versus experienced facilitators perceive the emotion of confidence and its implications on the facilitation process. This analysis is based on a single case study of a two-day movement-based sports innovation camp for 80 K-12 high school students. Empirical data were generated using a combination of observations and interviews with seven of the involved facilitators: three experienced facilitators and four novice facilitators. Our research indicates that facilitation can be categorised into three stages focused on (1) Structure, (2) Process, and (3) Content. Reaching the Content stages requires a high bodily involvement closely linked to the facilitator's confidence level, which we partially interpret as determined by the courage to use one's body as a facilitation resource. Thus, the facilitation Process depends not only on the facilitator's level of expertise but also on confidence level and courage. Consequently, we recommend thorough preparation for each facilitation stage to support the facilitator's confidence. Structure: Outline a detailed playbook, organise the physical space and prepare necessary materials. Process: Prepare strategies for providing guidance and feedback. Content: Implement Movement-Modifiers and participate in warm-up activities.</p
Exploring Movement-Modifier Facilitation in Movement-based Sports, Health, and Game Design
Full text linkIt can be daunting to ensure a movement flow that unleashes creativity when facilitating movement-based design activities that aim for play, games, sports, and technology domains. When incorporating movement in game design, it is vital to understand game and learning elements but equally movement and play elements because these are important motivational factors. To fully understand the play, sport, and physical activity aspects of movement-game design, we must investigate the world of physical activity and performance. As a part of the Erasmus+ project, MeCaMInD, the innovative design of Movement-Modifier cards was developed, intended as a tool in the facilitation process to engage participants in physical exploration, supporting, modifying, or tweaking movement-based design practices for an inclusive game and physical activity and performance design. The Movement-Modifiers is grounded in sports and health theories, creative design tools and methods. To harvest the Movement-Modifier’s tweaking creative potential, it is crucial to understand when and how to use them in the generative parts of a movement-based design process. Grounded in a phenomenological approach and based on a multiple case study, this paper explores how eight facilitators used the Movement-Modifiers to challenge and tweak the generative processes. The cases are 1) A two-day sports innovation camp for 80 K12 high school students, 2) A workshop on Inclusive exergame design with 15 participants at the Nordic Innovation Summit 2022, 3) A course teaching 65 sport bachelor students the creative acrobatic body performance design. Empirical data were generated using a combination of observations, video recordings, and interviews, and the phenomenological analysis was condensed into written facilitator narratives. We present Movement-Modifier facilitation strategies in three phases of movement-based design facilitation, illustrated on a continuum with the facilitator’s level of involvement on one axis and participation structure on the other. The facilitator’s role is multifaceted, and effective Movement-Modifier facilitation requires sensitivity, adaptability, and careful planning. The Movement-Modifiers should be seen as a tool to support the design process rather than the essence of it.It can be daunting to ensure a movement flow that unleashes creativity when facilitating movement-based design activities that aim for play, games, sports, and technology domains. When incorporating movement in game design, it is vital to understand game and learning elements but equally movement and play elements because these are important motivational factors. To fully understand the play, sport, and physical activity aspects of movement-game design, we must investigate the world of physical activity and performance. As a part of the Erasmus+ project, MeCaMInD, the innovative design of Movement-Modifier cards was developed, intended as a tool in the facilitation process to engage participants in physical exploration, supporting, modifying, or tweaking movement-based design practices for an inclusive game and physical activity and performance design. The Movement-Modifiers is grounded in sports and health theories, creative design tools and methods. To harvest the Movement-Modifier’s tweaking creative potential, it is crucial to understand when and how to use them in the generative parts of a movement-based design process. Grounded in a phenomenological approach and based on a multiple case study, this paper explores how eight facilitators used the Movement-Modifiers to challenge and tweak the generative processes. The cases are 1) A two-day sports innovation camp for 80 K12 high school students, 2) A workshop on Inclusive exergame design with 15 participants at the Nordic Innovation Summit 2022, 3) A course teaching 65 sport bachelor students the creative acrobatic body performance design. Empirical data were generated using a combination of observations, video recordings, and interviews, and the phenomenological analysis was condensed into written facilitator narratives. We present Movement-Modifier facilitation strategies in three phases of movement-based design facilitation, illustrated on a continuum with the facilitator’s level of involvement on one axis and participation structure on the other. The facilitator’s role is multifaceted, and effective Movement-Modifier facilitation requires sensitivity, adaptability, and careful planning. The Movement-Modifiers should be seen as a tool to support the design process rather than the essence of it
Enhancing Mathematical Reasoning in Primary School with the Strategic Board Game Othello
Full text linkThis study explores how the board game Othello can enhance primary school students' mathematical reasoning. Mathematical reasoning is increasingly emphasized in international mathematics curricula, yet both teachers and students face challenges in teaching and learning this important skill. Research shows that strategic games, like Othello, can develop thinking abilities related to mathematical reasoning by providing a context for students to engage in reflective thinking, anticipate future moves, and develop reasoning strategies. However, there is a need to understand how teachers can effectively utilize these games in the classroom to foster mathematical reasoning. We address this, through a design-based research approach consisting of a hermeneutic literature study and the development of design principles for a teaching intervention in a fifth-grade classroom. Data from the intervention is collected through participant observations and group interviews. The findings suggest that Othello can serve as a context for students to engage in mathematical reasoning by making and justifying claims and presenting logical arguments. The study proposes three design principles to scaffold mathematical reasoning during Othello gameplay. These principles focus on introducing and reinforcing the use of the "if...then" formulation, promoting exploratory talk, encouraging reflection on strategies, and fostering collaborative reasoning. The results indicate that the design principles positively impacted students' ability to reason mathematically. This paper contributes to the field of mathematics education and game-based learning by providing a practice-oriented perspective on designing mathematical instruction for reasoning using a specific board game in a primary school setting. The findings offer insights into the potential of strategic board games like Othello to enhance students' mathematical reasoning skills. The design principles proposed in this study can guide teachers in developing effective instructional approaches to support students' mathematical reasoning development.This study explores how the board game Othello can enhance primary school students' mathematical reasoning. Mathematical reasoning is increasingly emphasized in international mathematics curricula, yet both teachers and students face challenges in teaching and learning this important skill. Research shows that strategic games, like Othello, can develop thinking abilities related to mathematical reasoning by providing a context for students to engage in reflective thinking, anticipate future moves, and develop reasoning strategies. However, there is a need to understand how teachers can effectively utilize these games in the classroom to foster mathematical reasoning. We address this, through a design-based research approach consisting of a hermeneutic literature study and the development of design principles for a teaching intervention in a fifth-grade classroom. Data from the intervention is collected through participant observations and group interviews. The findings suggest that Othello can serve as a context for students to engage in mathematical reasoning by making and justifying claims and presenting logical arguments. The study proposes three design principles to scaffold mathematical reasoning during Othello gameplay. These principles focus on introducing and reinforcing the use of the "if...then" formulation, promoting exploratory talk, encouraging reflection on strategies, and fostering collaborative reasoning. The results indicate that the design principles positively impacted students' ability to reason mathematically. This paper contributes to the field of mathematics education and game-based learning by providing a practice-oriented perspective on designing mathematical instruction for reasoning using a specific board game in a primary school setting. The findings offer insights into the potential of strategic board games like Othello to enhance students' mathematical reasoning skills. The design principles proposed in this study can guide teachers in developing effective instructional approaches to support students' mathematical reasoning development.</p
Ingenious Game: Insights Into Evolving From a Learning Card Game to a Learning Software Application Game
Full text linkIngenious is a collaborative and competitive learning game application in which groups of students compete against each other in a product design and development (PDD) scenario where each group is responsible for a multidisciplinary team of engineers. The game has been used since 2020 to support a mechanical engineering master course. In this period, the game evolved from a card game to a software application. During the four game rounds representing the PDD phases, the players learn when to use over 80 different engineering design techniques. By choosing varying engineers and techniques, a student group creates a design strategy with a cost to execute and might be proven more effective than the competitors' strategies. Winning the game is about effectiveness in solving the challenges posed in the PDD scenario at a minimum cost. Once the game allows scenario customisation, new PDD scenarios can be created with different complexity levels. In the gamified classroom, grading is not a result of winning the game but a reflection of the group's choices and consequences while playing the game. This article presents the different game versions, describes the Ingenious game mechanics and dynamics and reflects on the game evolution and coverage of the Octalysis dimensions.</p
Applying design research for cross-disciplinary collaboration: Experiences from a gamification process
Full text linkThis study explores applying design science research (DSR) frameworks to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration towards game development. It uses a DSR framework proposed by Peffers et al (2014) to integrate the knowledge and experiences of a cross-disciplinary research team and develop a game which gamifies the investment decision-making process of energy communities. The framework employed for this paper constituted five phases around problem identification, definition of solution objectives, artefact design and development, demonstration and evaluation. The iterative process of the framework allowed for gradual but incremental improvement in the outcome and the associated artefacts and sustained researcher collaboration. The resultant interactive in-person game required the participants (or their teams) to navigate through the complexities of the decision-making process in a community while considering factors such as information asymmetry, uncertain return on investments, time constraints, etc. The game was instantiated twice and was able to engage players effectively. Moreover, the post-game evaluation indicated that the players acquired learning about energy communities. The participants developed an understanding of the game only gradually and their engagement in the later rounds of the game. Three distinct investment strategies emerged from the two instantiations (diversification, focus on centralised options, or focus on decentralised options). The participants preferred to maintain a strategy rather than reacting situationally. This gamification experience, albeit applicable to this specific research context, shows that DSR frameworks can be successfully applied to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration because they allow for more flexible and iterative knowledge exchange. The post-game evaluation helped identify avenues for further improvements, such as focusing on incremental-iterative development of the output, expanding the flexibility and visibility of the game, involving a more balanced research team, etc. The contribution of this study lies in extending the discourse on cross-disciplinary collaboration by incorporating DSR frameworks and demonstrating the application of game-based learning beyond end-user application
Could the Technology for Adaptive Learning Systems Come out of GBL?
No full textGames based learning (GBL) has a related field that it can draw upon: intelligent tutoring systems (ITS). A common concern in both fields is adaptivity, whereby the system can automatically adapt to the user. In order to support this adaptation, an ITS will generally include a user model and may also have a formal domain model. Work in this area started optimistically some years ago, but seems to have either lost some of that initial enthusiasm or been diverted into other directions. We scan recent ITS literature to help consider why this might be, and suggest how GBL may be the field best placed to take the work forward again. Learner models have long been seen as useful for adaptive learning systems. They include information about the learner which allows the system to adapt the course of learning materials and exercises to the learner's particular characteristics. In order to achieve a good quality of adaptation to the user, a detailed model of the required domain knowledge is typically added. The user and domain models then have to be brought together to lay out a course of exercises for the learner to do, and to track progress as the knowledge is learned. It's an attractive research programme, but recent work has moved to new issues, such as MOOCs. The reasons for that are partly opportunistic and economical, but also suggest a deeper problem with the research programme. It is a costly task to develop a domain model, and a suitable learner model that can take advantage of it. We suggest that GBL is in a good position to push through this cost barrier, because much of the effort is already implicitly involved in the game design process, which typically has to be more rigorously planned out in order to make the game a good one. One might thus expect the next breakthroughs in adaptive learning systems to come from GBL. We further argue that the advantages to research, offered by the ITS framework, are also potentially beneficial to the way we teach the subject of GBL to our students on game development courses.</p
What do we evaluate in serious games? A systematic review
Full text linkSerious games have emerged as an invaluable tool in education, revolutionizing the way students learn and engage with complex concepts. These games combine entertainment with educational content, creating immersive and interactive experiences that enhance learning outcomes. This strategy has positioned themselves as a powerful educational tool recommended for the new generations due to their benefits in terms of motivation, engagement, active learning, development of skills, and adaptation to diverse learning styles. By integrating serious games into educational programs, educators can enhance meaningful learning, foster relevant skills, and prepare students to tackle the challenges of the 21st century. The evaluation of serious games is important for various reasons. For example, it helps determine if a serious game meets its educational objectives and truly promotes learning and the development of specific skills. It also provides feedback on the design, gameplay, effectiveness, and other aspects of the serious game, allowing developers to identify strengths and areas for improvement to optimize the learning experience. Evaluations help determine if the serious game appropriately caters to the needs and characteristics of users, if it is suitable for the target group, if it is accessible to individuals with different abilities, and if it provides an appropriate level of challenge to promote engagement and learning. Ultimately, evaluations provide validation and credibility to serious games as educational tools. This study shows a systematic review of the factors that appear most frequently evaluated, the methodology used, and discusses the possibility of adding new factors and points out the need to consider the opinion of other users to improve the evaluation of these resources
Designing a 3D Serious Game about Career Pathways in the Games Industry
Full text linkThe aim of this paper is to give a detailed overview of the development of a 3D serious game that informs game students about career pathways in the games industry. The paper provides a scoping review on the key principles related to serious game design. These core design issues are reiterated in relation to how the development of the game has adhered to them. The paper illustrates the game’s audit trail in terms of implementation providing a development blueprint for other educators to follow when developing an educational game. The learning outcomes of the game are also accentuated and how the implementation of the game has catered for them. An important aspect of the paper is to highlight how the underlying aspects of game design can accommodate intrinsic content and motivation whilst accommodating the various pedagogical frameworks embedded in the gameplay. The characterising goals of the game have adopted a linear and cyclical approach that allows the player to progress through the gameplay completing formative and summative assessment challenges. The serious game was developed using the Unity game engine adopting a hub and spoke design. A key challenge when designing the game was how to ensure that the game remained endogenous when designing the game’s levels. The design considerations presented in this paper provide a solid implementational framework about how to implement principles of learning and assessment associated with employability skill sets with a specific focus to the games industry
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