Supporting Online Learning with Games

1. JingTao YaoDongWon KimJoseph P. HerbertDepartment of Computer Sciencejtyao@cs.uregina.cawww.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao Supporting Online Learning with Games

2. Contents • Web-based Learning Support Systems (WLSS) • Learning Order Indexing • Treasure Hunt Game • Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning

3. Online Learning • Fulfilling education goal • Using electronic communications & Information technology • Various forms of learning contents • No limitation on time and no geographical restrictions • Assistance from groups of experts • Cost effective learning environment

4. Student-centered Form of Education • Goal of online learning • Personalized education • Choosing best suitable course • Replaying learning contents • Skipping well-known parts • Customized tests

5. Online Learning • Lack of motivation of learning • Insufficient flexibility of learning • Difficulty of finding appropriate learning materials • Incorporation of Web-based game with WLSS

6. Why the Web? • Good accessibility • Student-friendly interface • Capability of delivering various forms of learning contents • Text, audio, graphics, animation, video • Vast resource for learning

7. Web-based Learning Support Systems • Enhanced learning support systems with Web technology • Supporting teacher and student for education • Conducting education with own teaching method on the Web • Alternatives to traditional methods of learning

8. Design Principles of WLSS • Encouraging in collaboration • Adapted contents based on each student’s knowledge • Interactive interface • Evaluation of student’s learning • Stimulating motivation of learning

9. Web-based Game • No CD or DVD to install • Online delivery of game software • No limitation on time and no geographical restrictions to play • Depending on Internet speed

10. Web-based Learning Game • Web-based game adapted for learning • Facilitating motivation of learning • Encouraging in collaboration with massively multiplayer games • Complement to Web-based learning (no motivation)

11. Architecture of WLSS Contents Management System Internet USER Learning Order Indexing Database Domain Knowledge Base Conventional Indexing Database I N T E R F A C E Information Retrieval Support System Teaching Support System Web-based Learning Game System Course Knowledge Base Academic Dictionary Database User Knowledge Base Membership Management System

12. Learning Order Indexing • Indexing learningobjects by learning order based on student’s background knowledge • Indicating userpreference • Representing degree of relative difficulty between learning objects • Representing degree of relative difference between learning objects • Represented by Term Relationship Graph

13. (t1,1,10) (t2,2,10) (t4,2,15) (t3,2,10) (t5,3,15) (t6,3,17) (t7,4,16) Term Relationship Graph • Hierarchy graph G=(V, A) Vertices V=(t, l, s) A: a set of ordered pairs of vertices t: salient word or phrase l: level of hierarchy s: a number of sentences needed to describe t • Reachable t {t1, t2 , t5 , t7 }, {t1, t3 , t5 , t7 }, {t1, t4 , t6 , t7 } • Unreachablet {t2 , t3 , t4 }, {t5, t6 }, {t2, t3 , t6 }, {t4, t5}

14. Treasure Hunt • Finding objects hidden by others:Originally an outdoor activity for children to find objects hidden by others. • Searching for clues and answers using Internet:In the online activity, a treasure hunt is an activity in which one searches for clues and answers using the Internet.

15. Treasure Hunt Model • Good problem-solving approach to learning ( Marcus and Beck, 2003 ) • Effective model for inquiry-based learning ( Hamelin, 2004 ) • Useful to review students’ learning with fun and thrills ( Blas et al., 2004 )

16. A Treasure Hunt Game • Web-based singleplayer game • Adventure game • Stage-based game • Finding some hiddentreasure among fake treasure with given clues

17. A Treasure Hunt Game • Unearthing treasure and exploring treasure islands and dungeons • Threats from wild animals, pirates and so forth • Helps and clues from NPCs • Library event • Quiz event

18. Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning • Treasure => concept to be learned • Clues => description of treasure concepts • Fake treasure and threat=> conceptunrelated to treasure concepts • All names of the game objects except for fake treasure and threats => concepts related to treasure concepts

19. Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning • NPC personifying a concept • Library event => Web searching for treasure concept • Quiz event => Testing for measuring student’s understanding • Dynamically generated next stage storyline with next concepts to be learned

20. Learning-Oriented Search Engine Treasure Hunt Game Interface Game Database User Knowledge Base Membership Management Clue Development Engine Academic Dictionary Database Course Knowledge Base Architecture of Web-based Learning Game Subsystem

21. (introduction,1,17) (text,5,5) (ascii,5,3) (data communications,2,17) (extended ascii,5,3) (simplex,7,4) (components,3,17) (iso,5,2) (half duplex, 7,6) (directiondata flow,6,1) (data representation,4,1) (unicode, 5,4) (networks,8,2) (numbers,5,4) (full duplex, 7,6) (images, 5,13) (audio, 5,4) (video, 5,2) Example: Part of Term Relationship Graph for Textbook

22. Example: Game Objects and Concepts

23. Start End Quiz Data Representation Mountain Event 1 Images ISO Audio Extended ASCII Data communications Video Unicode Numbers Text ASCII Components Threat Fake treasure Event Protocol Village Real treasure Help Example: A Treasure Map

24. Conclusions • The Goal of WLSS is to provide a highly motivated learning environment with well-organized knowledge base. • Web-based learning game subsystem in WLSS stimulates students motivation of learning. • Learning order index represents student’s preference about learning objects. • The treasure hunt game is a good model for Web-based learning game.

25. JingTao YaoDongWon KimJoseph P. HerbertDepartment of Computer Sciencejtyao@cs.uregina.cawww.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao Supporting Online Learning with Games

26. Where is Regina?