Overview
The Radix Endeavor is an online multiplayer game designed to augment math and biology instruction. Students use their knowledge of math and science to solve quests in a virtual Earth-like world. It is a world in which students can simulate how a particular species might adapt to environmental changes over many generations. By examining virtual animal droppings, students can diagram the connections between plant and animal species in a virtual ecosystem. The Radix Endeavor provides an engaging game atmosphere that reinforces what students learn in the classroom. To support classroom implementation, a full set of teacher resources and companion curriculum materials are available.
Resources
For more information please go to the Radix Endeavor’s website. You can also find a series of tutorial videos, as well as the trailer on The Radix Endeavor YouTube Channel.
Research
The Radix Endeavor conducted a pilot study during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 academic years. Teachers enrolled students in the game and used the game to supplement their math and biology instruction. Classroom observations and student and teacher surveys were conducted to uncover the varied implementation models. Findings from the pilot will be published here once the data analysis is complete.
Teachers and students are encouraged to continue using The Radix Endeavor and the associated teacher and student resources to explore concepts in math and biology.
Klopfer, E., Haas, J., Osterweil, S., & Rosenheck, L. (2018). Resonant Games. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Rosenheck, L. (2018). Designing for Collaborative Play: Why Games Need MUVEs and MUVEs Need Games. In Integrating Multi-User Virtual Environments in Modern Classrooms (pp. 26-49). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.
Cheng, M. T., Rosenheck, L., Lin, C. Y., & Klopfer, E. (2017). Analyzing gameplay data to inform feedback loops in The Radix Endeavor. Computers & Education, 111, 60-73.
Rosenheck, L., Clarke-Midura, J., Gordon-Messer, S., & Klopfer, E. (2017). Tipping the Scales: Classroom Feasibility of the Radix Endeavor Game. In Serious Games and Edutainment Applications (pp. 225-258). Springer International Publishing
Rosenheck, L., Gordon-Messer, S., Clarke-Midura, J., & Klopfer, E. (2016). Design and Implementation of an MMO: Approaches to Support Inquiry Learning with Games. In D. Russell, & J. Laffey (Eds.) Handbook of Research on Gaming Trends in P-12 Education (pp. 33-54). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. doi:10.4018/978-1-4666-9629-7.ch002
Conrad, S., Clarke-Midura, J., & Klopfer, E. (2014). A Framework for Structuring Learning Assessment in an Educational Massively Multiplayer Online Educational Game – Experiment Centered Design. International Journal of Game-Based Learning 4(1), 37-59.
Clarke-Midura, J., Rosenheck, L., Haas, J., Klopfer, E. (2013).The Radix Endeavor: Designing a Massively Multiplayer Online Game around Collaborative Problem Solving in STEM. Proceedings of the Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Conference (CSCL), Madison, WI, June 15-19.
Publications: Articles
- Blend My Learning – Helping Students Help Themselves: Tales from a Middle School Classroom (5/18/2015)
- Next Generation Learning Challenges – Supporting Teachers in Using Online Inquiry-Based Games (3/26/2015)
- Games and Learning – Six Strategies to Make the Most of Student Playtesting (2/16/2015)
- Games and Learning – Radix Puts Teachers in the Role of Co-Designers of an Educational Game (11/3/2014)
- Boston.com State of Play – I want to be an education content manager when I grow up #saidnoone (2/15/2013)
- Boston.com State of Play – Mind Games: New Adventures in Learning (2/3/2014)
