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Makahiki and SGSEAM: A Serious Game Framework for Sustainability and Assessment Method. Yongwen Xu Collaborative Software Development Laboratory Department of Information and Computer Science University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. Introduction. Sustainability
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Makahiki and SGSEAM: A Serious Game Framework for Sustainability and Assessment Method Yongwen Xu Collaborative Software Development Laboratory Department of Information and Computer Science University of Hawai`i at Mānoa
Introduction • Sustainability • is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. • Brundtland Report, 1987
Sustainability Behavior “We are not always rational decision makers” Psychology of Sustainable Behavior, Manning, 2009 • Energy is “invisible” • Water is “everywhere”
Sustainability Education • “Education as an essential tool for achieving sustainability” • Agenda 21, Earth Summit 1992, U.N. • “Surprising lack of sustainability curriculum initiatives in institutions of higher education” • Sendall 2010
Collegiate Sustainability Competitions 160+ Chelsea Hodge, 2010 Campus Sustainability Survey
Information Technology for Sustainability Education?
Harvard Green Cup A. Use a "minimal tech" solution such as a web page and manual posting of data and results
Oberlin Campus Resource Monitoring System B. Out-source to a commercial provider Lucid Design Group
The Kukui Cup 2011University of Hawai`i at Manoa C. Build your own custom in-house solution 3 weeks competition 2 years software development
Research Goals Design a serious game framework for sustainability education Design a method for assessing serious game frameworks
Serious Game “a mental contest, played with a computer in accordance with specific rules that uses entertainment to further government or corporate training, education, health, …..” Zyda, Michael 2005
Serious Games in Learning and Behavior Accomplishment Motivation Social Engaging Enforcement
Related work Power House Reeves, James, 2012
Related work Vermontivate Vermont town energy competition, 2012
Game Framework “a framework comprised of a collection of different tools, utilities, and interfaces that hide the low-level detailsof the various tasks that make up a video game.” - Sherrod 2007
Makahiki: • An Open Source Serious Game Framework for Sustainability
System Design Architecture Responsive Web UI Game and Mechanics Library A P I Water game Energy game Smartgrid game Raffle game Topscore game Manual Data Badge Referral Participation Quest Wattdepot Data Facebook Integration Game Analytics Score Manager Resource Manager Green Button Data Authentication CAS LDAP Django MemCache Database
Whatmakes Makahiki a Framework? • Configurable game elements • Configurable resources • Extending new content and games • Built-in analytics for game evaluation • Mobile support • Flexible local or cloud deployment
5. Mobile support Laptop view Mobile view Responsive Web Design
Experience with Makahiki Framework 2012 2013 Upcoming 2014
Assessing Serious Game Framework How do we know if a serious game framework is correctly designed ?
Related work Serious Game Assessment
Related work Assessment Tools • GEQ (Game Engagement Questionnaire) • QUIS (Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction)
SGSEAM: Serious Game Stakeholder Experience Assessment Method
Assessment Vs Evaluation • Evaluation: • is to “determine the quality of a program by formulating a judgment” • Hurteau et al., Evaluation 2009 • SGSEAM is an assessment method • not to judge • not compare with others
SGSEAM Goals • Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the framework by assessing the stakeholders’ experiences • for the purpose of self improvement
SGSEAM Serious Game Stakeholders • Players participate in the game • System admins install and maintain the game infrastructure • Game designers design the content and game mechanics • Game managers manage the game during the game period • Game developers extend, enhance the game
Serious Game Stakeholders NOT in SGSEAM • Researchers • Spectators • Funding organizations
Multiple Assessment Approaches • Different levels of rigor • in-lab experiment has more data points • post-hoc interview has data in production • Additive, the more the better
SGSEAM Evaluation Apply SGSEAM to Makahiki Apply SGSEAM to Lucid BuildingOS
Player Pre-post Study Assessment Approach Energy literacy survey • before and after the game Energy usage comparison: • before and after the game
Pre-post Study Result 2011 UH Kukui Cup [2] Energy literacy • 18% (p=0.056) improvement (24 players) Energy usage: • ~2% reduction (20 teams) Assessment Outcome: • effectiveness in literacy improvement • not enough evidence in behavior change [2] Robert Brewer PhD dissertation
Player Engagement Metrics Assessment Approach Analyze game log to calculate: • Participation rate • Daily players • Daily play time • Submission rate • Social interaction rate • Game error rate
Engagement Metrics Assessment Result 2012 UH Kukui Cup (n=1038) Evidence of successful player engagement
In-lab experiments • ICS691 Spring 2013 • Serious game development course • 8 students (CS major) • Assessment: • System admin • Game designer • Game developer
Experiment Design • Student assignments: • Install the framework • Design games • Develop enhancements • Use google form to record: • Time spent • Problem encountered • Write blog posts to describe: • Problems in depth • Experiences
System admin In-lab installation experiment Result Avgtime (minutes) for installation steps -- 2013 Spring ICS691 (n=8) • Weakness: • database configuration, no enough automation
Game designer In-lab design experiment Result Avgtime (minutes) for design tasks -- 2013 Spring ICS691 (n=8) • Weakness: • Smartgrid game predicate design, bugs in design interface
Game developer In-lab development experiment Result completed “Hello world” widget • 8 students completed all 5 enhancements • 1 students Main problem reported • lack of documentation 2013 Spring ICS691 (n=8)
Makahiki SGSEAM Assessment Preliminary Outcome SGSEAM Assessment Report