JingTao YaoJingTao YaoDongWon KimDongWon Kim

Joseph P. HerbertJoseph P. Herbert

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Sciencejtyao@cs.uregina.cajtyao@cs.uregina.ca

www.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyaowww.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao

Supporting Online Learning with Games

ContentsContents Web-based Learning Support Systems

(WLSS) Learning Order Indexing Treasure Hunt Game Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for

Learning

Online LearningOnline 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

Goal of online learning

Personalized education

Choosing best suitable course

Replaying learning contents

Skipping well-known parts

Customized tests

Student-centered Form of Education

Online LearningOnline Learning

Lack of motivation of learning Insufficient flexibility of learningDifficulty of finding appropriate

learning materials Incorporation of Web-based

game with WLSS

Good accessibilityStudent-friendly interfaceCapability of delivering various

forms of learning contentsText, audio, graphics, animation,

videoVast resource for learning

Why the Web?Why the Web?

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

Web-based Learning Support SystemsWeb-based Learning Support Systems

Encouraging in collaboration

Adapted contents based on each

student’s knowledge

Interactive interface

Evaluation of student’s learning

Stimulating motivation of learning

Design Principles of WLSSDesign Principles of WLSS

Web-based GameWeb-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

Web-based Learning GameWeb-based Learning Game

Web-based game adapted for learning

Facilitating motivation of learning

Encouraging in collaboration

with massively multiplayer gamesComplement to Web-based

learning (no motivation)

Architecture of WLSSArchitecture of WLSS

Teaching Support System

User Knowledge

Base

InternetInternet

Information Retrieval Support System

LearningOrder

IndexingDatabase

Contents Management System

INTERFACE

USER

Conventional Indexing Database

DomainKnowledge

Base

Web-based Learning Game System

Membership Management SystemCourse Knowledge

Base

Academic Dictionary Database

Learning Order IndexingLearning Order Indexing Indexing learning objects by learning

order based on student’s background knowledge

Indicating user preference

Representing degree of relative difficulty between learning objects

Representing degree of relative difference between learning objects

Represented by Term Relationship Graph

Term Relationship GraphTerm Relationship Graph (t1,1,10)

(t2,2,10) (t3,2,10)

(t4,2,15)

(t5,3,15)

(t6,3,17)

(t7,4,16)

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 }

Unreachable t {t2 , t3 , t4 }, {t5, t6 }, {t2, t3 , t6 }, {t4, t5}

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.

Treasure HuntTreasure Hunt

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 )

Treasure Hunt ModelTreasure Hunt Model

Web-based single player game

Adventure game

Stage-based game

Finding some hidden treasure

among fake treasure with given

clues

A Treasure Hunt GameA 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

A Treasure Hunt GameA Treasure Hunt Game

Treasure => concept to be learned

Clues => description of treasure concepts

Fake treasure and threat => concept unrelated to treasure concepts

All names of the game objects except for fake treasure and threats => concepts related to treasure concepts

Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for LearningAdapted 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

Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for LearningAdapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning

Architecture of Web-based Architecture of Web-based Learning Game SubsystemLearning Game Subsystem

Learning-Oriented Search Engine

Interface

Academic Dictionary Database

Course Knowledge Base

Membership Management

Treasure Hunt Game

Clue Development Engine

Game Database User Knowledge Base

Example: Part of Term Relationship Example: Part of Term Relationship Graph for TextbookGraph for Textbook

(data communications,2,17)

(data representation,4,1)

(text,5,5)(introduction,1,17)

(components,3,17)

(direction data flow,6,1) (networks,8,2)

(ascii,5,3)

(extended ascii,5,3)

(unicode, 5,4)

(iso,5,2)

(numbers,5,4)

(images, 5,13)

(audio, 5,4)

(video, 5,2)

(simplex,7,4)

(half duplex,

7,6)

(full duplex, 7,6)

Example: Game Objects and Example: Game Objects and ConceptsConcepts

Game Objects Learning Concepts

Event 1 Introduction

NPC 1 Data communications

NPC 2 Components

Place 1 Protocol

Place 2 Data representation, Extended ASCII, Unicode, ISO, Numbers,

Images, Audio, Video

Threat 1 Text

Threat 2 ASCII

Example: A Treasure MapExample: A Treasure Map

Data Representation

Mountain

Data communications

Unicode

ISO

Numbers

Audio

Video

Components

Protocol Village

Event 1

Start Quiz End

Threat

Help

Fake treasure

Real treasure

Event

Extended

ASCII

Images

Text ASCII

ConclusionsConclusions

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.

JingTao YaoJingTao YaoDongWon KimDongWon Kim

Joseph P. HerbertJoseph P. Herbert

Department of Computer ScienceDepartment of Computer Sciencejtyao@cs.uregina.cajtyao@cs.uregina.ca

www.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyaowww.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao

Supporting Online Learning with Games

Where is Regina?Where is Regina?