adaptive learning for educational game design
DESCRIPTION
Educational computer games continue to overwhelm educators with design and development complexities, time, and cost and underwhelm learners regarding immersive, intuitive, and enjoyable game play. No complete model or comprehensive guideline for content development or game design exists for educators and game designers to follow in the creation of educational games that adapt to learners in real-time. This research developed and validated the ALGAE (Adaptive Learning GAme dEsign) model, a comprehensive adaptive learning model based on game design theories and practices, instructional strategies, and adaptive models. This dissertation extends previous research in game design, instructional strategies, and adaptive learning, combining these three components into a single complex model. The results of this study include the validation and applicability of the ALGAE model, benefits and challenges of using the model, and insights regarding the focused and unfocused implementation approaches. The study also reveals the cross-industry applicability of the model to include government agencies, military units, game industry, and academia.TRANSCRIPT
Adaptive Learning for Educational Game Design
Dr. Ed Lavieri
Three Roads
Game DesignGame Design
Learners excited about games; not school
Excite learners about game’s content
‘to learn’ is the fundamental motivating factor
Traditional Game Design
Instructional Strategies Instructional Strategies
Learner Concept Map Learning Object Ontology
Learning Theories
Human Behavior
Cognitive Factors
Environmental Influences
Behavior
Respondent(prior cues)(emotional)
Operant(produces
rewards/punishments)(environment)
Performs Operations(encoding)
Information
StorageRetention/Retrieval
GenerateResponse to Info
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Understanding
Knowledge
P
EB
Adaptive LearningAdaptive Learning
MethodologyQualitative Exploratory
Model Based Reasoning
Tacit Epistemology
Literature Review
Integrated Model
Survey AnalysisRevised Model
ALGAE
Adaptive Learning GAme dEsign (ALGAE)
ALGAE Model
Consolidated Instructional
Strategies Model (CISM)
ALGAE Model
Comprehensive Adaptive Learning
Model (CALM)
Survey Instrument – Area of Focus
Game Design
INS-STR
Adaptive Learning
Not Identified
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Focus Area
Participant Primary Area of Focus
Survey Instrument – Expertise Levels
Very Little
Very Little
Very Little
Very Little
Some
Some
Some
Some
Above Avg
Above Avg
Above Avg
Above Avg
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20
Game Design
INS-STR
Adaptive
Other
Game Design INS-STR Adaptive Other
Expert 6 19 1 6
Above Avg 7 15 8 4
Some 2 9 2 1
Very Little 1 0 0 6
Participant Level of Expertise by Area of Focus
Survey Instrument - Industries
Government/Military
Academic
Game
Not-For-Profit
Independent
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Participant Industries (Select All That Apply)
• No “Independent” Respondents
• No “Not-For-Profit” Respondents
• “Other” Write-ins:
• Corporate Training & Development
• Synthetic Intelligence
• Libraries
• Corporate and Non-Profit Online Training
Survey Instrument – Education Levels
HS or Below
HS or Below
HS or Below
HS or Below
AS/AA
AS/AA
AS/AA
AS/AA
BS/BA
BS/BA
BS/BA
BS/BA
MS/MA
MS/MA
MS/MA
MS/MA
Doctorate
Doctorate
Doctorate
Doctorate
0 5 10 15 20 25
Game Design
INS-STR
Adaptive
Oher
Participant Education Levels
RQ1 How can an adaptive learning model’s effectiveness be assessed?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
assessments automated analytics
baseline / benchmarks
case studies expert opnion learner retention
learning outcomes
measured over time
RQ2What characteristics of an adaptive learning model need to be evaluated in order to determine the model’s efficacy?
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
RQ3 What are the key conceptual elements of game design methodologies that should be incorporated into a comprehensive adaptive learning model?
Missing
Intuitive
Transreality Component
Storage
Measurement Systems
Video Tutorials
Aesthetics
Role of Trainer
Personalization, Engaging, Challenging, Completion Certificate
Complex Open-Ended Problem Space
Unnecessary
Social Connectivity / Collaborative
Punishment System
Instructional Strategies System
Contextual Feedback
NPCs
Motivated
RQ4 What are the key instructional strategies that should be incorporated into a comprehensive adaptive learning model?
RQ5 What level of adaptiveness is necessary to increase learning outcomes in educational games?
Level of AdaptivenessDesign & Development
Difficulty
RQ6-A What are the advantages. . .of using the ALGAE model?In
st. D
esi
gn
ers
G
ame
De
sig
ne
rs
- Structure / guidelines- Game success- Improved outcomes- Non-exclusive gameplay- Link between GD & EDU
- Structure / guidelines- Checklist / job aid- Understanding in-game
adaptivity
RQ6-B What are the. . . disadvantages of using the ALGAE model?In
st. D
esi
gn
ers
G
ame
De
sig
ne
rs
- Specificity of LOs
- Difficult to comprehend- Difficult to implement- Change / buy-in
- Collaboration with educators
RQ7How does the ALGAE model support adaptive learning?
Content-Related
Adapts presentation of content
Participation-based content creation
Makes content effective
Delivers adaptive content
Based on learner needs
Links
Content to storyline
Instruction and goals
Goals to KSAAMs
Learner-Focused
Adaptable learning path
In-game progression drives difficultly level
RQ8What are the benefits and challenges when using a focused vs. an unfocused approach to implementing a specific game design model?
UnfocusedFocused
Consistency
Accuracy
Coordination
Scope Management
Flexibility
Adaptability
Creativity
Inflexibility
Stifles Creativity
People
Time Consuming
Hard to Implement
Implementation Approach
Implications
Basic Guideline
Checklist
Data Schema
Unknown Level of Adaptiveness (RQ5)
Figure 5.41
Opinions of Usability
Art of the Possible
Future Research
Near Term
Detailed model analysis
Focused / unfocused implementation
Assessment tool
Determine adaptiveness level
Map to serious game heuristics
Longer Term
Domain ontology & repository integration method
Learner retention methods
Deep immersion
Determine ethical, social, and cultural issues
Measuring connectivity between ALGAE components
Collaboration Invitation: MIT Education Arcade and Learning Games Network
Three Roads & ALGAE
Adaptive Learning
Instructional Strategies
Game Design
Adaptive Learning for Educational Game Design
Dr. Ed Lavieri