Brian A. Danielak
ABSTRACT
We describe the development and user testing of an iPad prototype for a new museumbased, interactive tabletop computer game called MakeScape Lite. The game lets learnerswho have no prior formal experience in circuitrybuild virtual circuits in a fantasy challenge scenario to (1) learn some basic circuitry concepts and (2) engage in basic engineering practices, such as problem identification, design, and iteration. In phase 1 of testing, we explored how children socially interacted to develop design goals when the game lacked explicit guidance about what to do. In phase 2, which we discuss here, we iterated the prototype with partially worked examples to offer more explicit guidance to children. We then studied video and game log data of students playtesting the game.
- Allen, S. 2004. Designs for learning: Studying science museum exhibits that do more than entertain. Science Education. 88, S1 (2004), S17S33.Google Scholar
- Allen, S. and Gutwill, J. 2004. Designing With Multiple Interactives: Five Common Pitfalls. Curator: The Museum Journal. 47, 2 (2004), 199212.Google Scholar
- Cohen, R. et al. 1983. Potential difference and current in simple electric circuits: A study of students' concepts. American Journal of Physics. 51, 5 (May 1983), 407412.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Engelhardt, P.V. and Beichner, R.J. 2003. Students' understanding of direct current resistive electrical circuits. American Journal of Physics. 72, 1 (Dec. 2003), 98115.Google Scholar
- Gee, J.P. 2004. Situated language and learning: a critique of traditional schooling. Routledge.Google Scholar
- Gee, J.P. 2003. What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy. Palgrave Macmillan. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Gentner, D.R. and Gentner, D. 1983. Flowing Waters or Teeming Crowds: Mental Models of Electricity. Mental Models. D. Gentner and A.L. Stevens, eds. Erlbaum. 99129.Google Scholar
- Papert, S. and Harel, I. 1991. Situating Constructionism. Constructionism: Research Reports and Essays, 19851990. I. Harel and S. Papert, eds. Ablex Pub. Corp. 111.Google Scholar
- Pearson, G. et al. 2002. Technically speaking: Why all Americans need to know more about technology. National Academy Press.Google Scholar
- Recktenwald, G.W. and Hall, D.E. 2011. Using Arduino as a platform for programming, design and measurement in a freshman engineering course. Proceedings of 118th American Society of Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition (Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 2011).Google Scholar
- Resnick, M. et al. 1999. High technology and lowincome communities: prospects for the positive use of advanced information technology. D.A. Schön et al., eds. MIT Press. 263286.Google Scholar
- Resnick, M. et al. 2009. Scratch: Programming for All. Commun. ACM. 52, 11 (Nov. 2009), 6067. Google ScholarDigital Library
- Shaffer, D.W. et al. 2005. Video Games and the Future of Learning. The Phi Delta Kappan. 87, 2 (Oct. 2005), 104111.Google ScholarCross Ref
- Stetzer, M.R. et al. 2013. New insights into student understanding of complete circuits and the conservation of current. American Journal of Physics. 81, 2 (Jan. 2013), 134143.Google ScholarCross Ref
Index Terms
- MakeScape lite: a prototype learning environment for making and design
Recommendations
Computational Thinking in Constructionist Video Games
Video games offer an exciting opportunity for learners to engage in computational thinking in informal contexts. This paper describes a genre of learning environments called constructionist video games that are especially well suited for developing ...
Potential Attempt to Treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Children with Engineering Education Games
Design, User Experience, and UsabilityAbstractOver the past two decades, interventions for children and adolescents with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have greatly increased, especially gamification interventions, which have become a focus of research. However, gamified ...
Ice Paddles, CO2 Invaders, and Exploding Planets: How Young Students Transform Climate Science Into Serious Games
CHI PLAY '20: Proceedings of the Annual Symposium on Computer-Human Interaction in PlayIn game-based curricula that leverage game design, students can learn creatively by transforming serious topics into video games (i.e., serious games). However, as these games remain mostly under-explored, we know little about how students design them ...
Comments