Educational Video Game/Simulation Project


For the Video Game/Simulation Project (your choice of platform - StarLogo TNG, Java, Flash, etc.), you should develop the simulation or game that you proposed in your design document, narrowing down the feature set to what is feasible and useful. You are welcome to get help on the program from your classmates and professor. You should develop the program to the point that it is useful for someone else to use for learning. As we have discussed in class, the software need not stand on its own, it can be supported by a facilitator and extra materials (which should be provided along with the program as a part of the written part of the project).

Some criteria for evaluating your project include for testing and for final grading:

  • Ease of use - can a user figure out how to use it
  • Choice of learning goals - does the design include appropriate learning goals
  • Achievement of learning goals- does the project fit the stated learning goals
  • Engagement - is the project engaging for the user
  • Input - are there appropriate ways for the user to provide input into the software (e.g. sliders, mouse actions, paint tools, etc.) and sufficient quantity (not too much or too little) of these inputs
  • Output - does the program represent things in a useful way to the user (e.g. graphs, scores, changes in the turtles' behaviors)
  • Aesthetics - is it well organized and "nice to look at"

In addition to the simulation or game itself, and the written component, a presentation about your project is required. The presentation should include a description of your project inlcluding information on how it works, the assumptions that you made, what it is based on, and some background information. The other part should include some brief analysis of your simulation or game including how someone would use it and possible use cases/scenarios as well as what and how someone would learn from the program.

Written Component - Simulation or game itself + Description of what it is and how it works + Some "User Testing" that provides some informal feedback on the simulation/game + Supporting documentation and materials

Oral Component - Presentation of game/simulation addressing questions above.

You have now designed and studied several games and simulations. But how do we know whether learners actually learn anything from them, or even enjoyed them. Your final project is to design and conduct a small study around one of your games/simulations (video or board game). You must decide on the criteria and instruments, and then actually go out and conduct the study with an appropriate audience. You should also back up any of your methodology and findings with appropriate literature from the field.  The study will combine elements of usability, evidence for enjoyment and some qualitative work around learning (e.g. analysis of dialog of players, interviews, self-assessment).