Game based Learning in Computer Science
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Transcript Game based Learning in Computer Science
Dave Tucker
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
EXPLORING GAME-BASED
LEARNING FOR COMPUTER
SCIENCE
What will be covered
Are Serious games useful?
Examples
Overview
Serious games used to teach Computer Science
topics
New research area
Useful tool for teaching abstract topics
Can be used for any subject matter, this talk
focuses on uses in Computer Science
New rapid development software for 3D sims
Research demonstrating success of using games
for education
Three examples with Higher Ed in mind
Research
Yes, a valid way to educate
Some studies say slight, others up to 63% gain in
knowledge
All agree that students prefer the use of games
over traditional methods.
There are examples of where students were
motivated to go beyond the game and research
more about a topic
Applying knowledge is better than hearing the
knowledge
Requires the use of Critical Thinking
Advantages
Experimental Learning – No pressure and
unlimited tries
Inquiry-Based Learning – Experiment to learn
new things
Self-Efficacy – Tend to keep trying until
victory
Goal Setting – Motivation
Cooperation – possible if multiplayer game
Continuous Feedback – Immediate response
Examples – Age of Computers
Travel back in time
to solve problems
Mostly multiple
choice questions
Math & Processor
control also
95% of students
said its more
motivating than
traditional exercises
Examples – Virtual Family
Teach java programming
Uses family characters
You want to make your characters
programmed to react to your other character
actions (like a form of programming known
as Object Oriented)
Examples – Problems & Programmers
Card based game
Software Engineering
(design)
Player must follow certain
steps collecting cards
How well you design depends
on how you play your cards
Can get random problems
Budget concerns
Goal is to finish on as soon as
possible with quality product
Students found it easy to
learn and was an effective
teaching method
Examples – Algorithm
Visualization
Binary Search
Try to find the number
Player knows that the
numbers are in order
Timed
Examples – Algorithm
Visualization
Teaching sorting
techniques
Move the cards using a
certain sorting method
(insertion sort in this example)
See how accurate the
player is given a fixed
amount of time
Current Project
Simple walk through
Inside a PC
Approach a computer
component, it prompts
a multiple choice
question.
Conclusions
No disadvantage to using serious games to
supplement or replace traditional teaching
methods
Majority of cases found that students learn
more while enjoying the experience.
Further research needed
Other topics such as simulations for networks
1st year programming students high failure rate
Questions
References
R.V. Eck, “Digital Game-Based Learning: It's Not Just the Digital Natives Who Are Restless ” EDUCAUSE, vol. 41, no. 2, 2006, pp. 1618.
J. Gee, “What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy,” computers in entertainment CIE, vol. 1, no. 1, 2003, pp. 20.
A. Clark, Natural-Born Cyborgs: Why Minds and Technologies Are Made to Merge, Oxford University Press, 2003.
M.J. Mayo, “GAMES FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION,” Communications of the ACM, vol. 50, no. 7, 2007, pp. 30-35.
K. Squire, et al., “Electromagnetism supercharged!: Learning physics with digital simulation games,” Proc. 6th International
Conference on Learning Sciences, ACM Press, 2004.
P. Mcclean, et al., “Virtual worlds in large enrollment science classes significantly improve authentic learning ” Proc. 12th
International Conference on College Teaching and Learning, Center for the Advancement of Teching and Learning, 2001, pp. 111-118.
L. Natvig and S. Line, “Age of computers: game-based teaching of computer fundamentals,” Book Age of computers: game-based
teaching of computer fundamentals, Series Age of computers: game-based teaching of computer fundamentals, ed., Editor ed.^eds.,
ACM, 2004, pp.
W. Duplantis, et al., “'Virtual Family': An Approach to Introducing Java Programming,” ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, vol. 34, no. 2, 2002, pp.
40-43.
A. Baker, et al., “An experimental card game for teaching software engineering processes,” Journal of System and Software, vol. 75,
no. 1-2, 2005, pp. 3-16.
S. Shabanah and J.X. Chen, “Simplifying algorithm learning using serious games,” Book Simplifying algorithm learning using serious
games, Series Simplifying algorithm learning using serious games, ed., Editor ed.^eds., ACM, 2009, pp.