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Expedient Application of Simple Gaming for Learning and AssessmentPresenter: Jay Graser

SRA Emerging Learning TechnologiesJune 2, 2010

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Why are we here?• Raise awareness of the

multiple uses of simple games

• Initiate a dialogue regarding more uses of simple games

• Address how concepts from complex games can be moved to simple games.

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Overview

What’s a simple game?

Problems to be addressed include:• Fitting gaming within restrictive architectures• Remediating areas missed by the typical pre-test• Engaging students on dry topics• Interesting digital natives while maintaining credibility

with digital tourists• Avoiding the impact of test anxiety• Practical limits of simple gaming, at what point must

you move to more complex games

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Simple Games DefinedOperational Definition: a game involves an assigned challenge and employs some

form of positive and/or negative reward system. Simple games have few rules and require minimal skills to play.

For the purposes of this presentation, Simple Games will be used to enhance learning

Examples:• Tic Tac Toe• Hangman• Jeopardy• Space Invaders• Board Games• Variations of the above

Non-examples:• World of Warcraft• America’s Army• US Nexus• Serious Gaming Winner at I/ITSEC

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Complex Game Example – Computer Based Corpsman Training System

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Advantages of Simple Games vs Complex Games

Simple• Low end of Bloom’s Taxonomy

(Knowledge & Comprehension)• Minimal materials (e.g., paper,

white board, basic props)• Uses minimal infrastructure (e.g.,

Flash)• Relatively easy to develop and

support• Can capture aspects of Complex

Games (e.g.,storyline, characters)• More time is spent on content, vs

creating the game• Participants do not need

advanced gaming skills• Easy to follow instructions• Quick ramp up time

Complex• High End of Bloom’s Taxonomy

(Application, Synthesis, Evaluation)• Advanced hardware/software

infrastructure (e.g., thick client, multiple ports, joy stick, immersive environment, gesture interface, NATAL interface)

• May use a gaming engine• Graphics design intensive• Sometimes complex storylines• Programming skills required to

develop and maintain• More advanced gaming skills

required• Sometimes complex rules

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USAF SAM Expeditionary Medical Training (XMT) II -

• Expeditionary Medical Training (XMT) uses a Jeopardy style format where the objective is to keep the patient alive

• Correct answers allow your patient to stay healthy while incorrect answers cause the patient’s health to decrease.

• Uses Flash or Shockwave, emulating some look and feel of Complex Gaming environments without the associated client application or access issues

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USAF Gremlin Gone Game Reduces “Gaming the test”

• The goal of the interaction is to protect the people from an invasion of Gremlins– Correct answers allow the

learner to airdrop Gremlin Gone spray to the people below.

– Incorrect answers allow the Gremlins to sabotage the airdrop

• SCORM 2004 Compliant Learning Management Systems allow intra-SCO remediation

• Storyline distracts students from trying to “game the test”

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USAF Grammar Refresher Alien Abduction

• The goal of this interaction is to protect the herd from dastardly alien invaders.– Correct answers to the questions

guide the missiles to their target and save an abducted cow.

– Incorrect answers to the questions allow the aliens to escape with the precious livestock.

• Dry material becomes more engaging – students return voluntarily and learn more

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Crossword Puzzle Digital Natives vs Digital Tourists

• Crossword Puzzle structure avoids any distraction due to storyline

• Clicking the Try button populates the crossword puzzle fields if the answer is correct

• Clicking the Hint button flashes the correct answer on the screen

• Allows fill in the blank, as opposed to multiple choice

• Game is familiar to digital tourists while the medium appeals to digital natives

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Skeeball Digital Natives vs Digital Tourists

• Objective is to score the most points while playing Skeeball.

• Each ball is thrown after the learner answers a question.

• Incorrect responses result in fewer points and may require lesson remediation.

• Correct answers grant you the most points.

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Field Sanitation Board Game Digital Natives vs Digital Tourists

• Objective is to move your game piece along the boardwalk to the “End” square.

• Learner is presented challenges that pass along facts and no response.

• When the learner lands on a space with a question mark, a question is presented.

• Correct responses allow the learner to remain in that space.

• Incorrect responses mean the game piece must move back the same number of spaces as on the dice.

• First piece to the end wins the game.

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Spy Quest Digital Natives vs Digital Tourists

• Instructor-led team game• Correct answers keep your

position• Incorrect answers move the

game pieces back the number of spaces rolled

• Complete the game successfully before the other team

• Roll the dice and move their game pieces across the board

• Players can land on spaces that either ask questions or provide more complex challenges.

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Fighter Jet Game Avoiding Test Anxiety

• The goal of this interaction is to complete the new version of the classic Hangman game. – Correct letter selections will

prepare the plane for takeoff.– Incorrect letter selections will

cause the plane to fall apart on the runway and eventually the pilot will scrub the mission.

• Does not “look or feel like a test.”• Storyline distracts from the notion

students are taking a test

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Walk the Plank

• Hangman-style game, keep the player out of the acid– Selecting correct word or letters

keeps player away from harm– Incorrect answers brings players

closer to dropping into the barrel of acid

• More complex fill-in-the-blank questions that require the learner to know the information without seeing options

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Memory Matching Practice Recall

• Basic Memory-style game• Select a card to reveal the image

underneath • If learner selects two cards in a

row with the same image, those cards disappear

• Works well for knowledge that involves images and facts that require practice for immediate recall

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Proving Grounds (Jeopardy) Ease of Maintenance

• Instructor-led Jeopardy-like game• Group setting• User-friendly interface to adapt

the game for any course by updating questions and answers.

• Two rounds and a final Proving Grounds Challenge– Clicking the boxes displays

the question. – Clicking the answer button

displays the correct answer. – Scoring is tracked by the

instructor

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When to Move to Complex GamesLevel IV Interactivity – real time interaction is required

Spatial Orientation is an objective

Real World Fidelity prevents negative learning

The actions of the game are what’s being taught vs unrelated material (i.e., knowing grammar has little to do with whther my F-15’s wing tanks fall off or not.

Affective Objectives – fidelity of the environment evokes an emotional response

Physics – student actions generate realistic results

Infrastructure is not a limited factor (network, game station and peripheral hardware.

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Summary

Why use simple games?• Minimal Web-based architectures• Remediating the pre-test• Engaging students• Interesting digital natives• Maintaining credibility with digital tourists• Avoiding test anxiety

Contact:Jay F. Graser, PMPPrincipal, Program Manager825 Diligence Drive, Suite 100Newport News, VA 23606Cell: (703) 801-2750Fax: (757) 591-5389