What is the problem of educational computer game

By Chao-Chin,Hsu

CIMT630

IntroduceEducational computer game is a powerful tool to motivate and help students learning.

“ In addition to sporting game, board games, and social games, new kinds of video and computer-based games can be used to support meaningful learning in classroom.” (Jonassen,Howland, Marra & Crismond, 2008)

“Young people can learn some skill and concepts that they will need in the future world by playing electronic games when learning and work are integrated with digital image and process in most fields.”(Heeter,Chu,Maniar,Winn,Mishra,Egidio&Portwood-Stacer, 2004)

In this presentation, I will compare the design elements of

educational and commercial computer game.

I will pointed out what kinds barriers in school for using educational computer game

What is the solution of this problems.

Introduce

What is the problem of Educational computer game?

Young people don’t like to play educational computer game because it is so “boring”.

Teachers don’t like to use educational computer game in school because there are some limitation in school.

Compare educational and commercial computer games

“The computer screen should not be a representation of a page of book, but a windows to a new world”

(Ang & Rao,2008)

The structure of game: create story VS simple story

The way of interaction: Using NPC VS simple menu or buttonThe mission of the game: meaningful goal VS grade and scoreThe way of display information: visual reality environment VS conventional user interface

The suggestion to educational game design

Using virtual reality environment to show information or question

Using non-player character to interact with players

Hide the learning goal behind of meaningful goal.

Provide multi-choice to players

The barriers in school of using educational computer game

The status of faculty using technology in school

The status of computer using in school

The status of class period

Some arguments of using game in teaching

The suggestion to face the barriers in school

Teacher need to have support from school and game computer.

The different design for different level of players.The different visions for different time.

The other solution

Modify the commercial game to meet the special learning objective.

Some commercial game company will released the old game and provide a open-source for education. We can use some program to modify.

The pitfall of using educational computer gameUsing educational game is not focus on efficiency.

“a large and common trade-off in game is motivation versus efficiency.” (Stephen & Stanley, 2001)

Playing educational game is not for win the game.

The end

Educational computer game will be a powerful tool in teaching process. When the educational game market become bigger, more and more instruction designer will participate in design educational game. It will become easy to find a good educational computer game.

thanks