Computer-based Educational Game Research Articles

EEMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN GAME ELEMENTS FOR FORMING HIGHER FEELINGS IN ACTIVE AND DEEPER LEARNING

This study aims to investigate the model of emotional intelligence and its use in computer games. Video games can be used to enhance emotional intelligence through active and deep learning. This article explores how emotional intelligence and gaming intersect, offering insights into how higher feelings can be formed through active and deeper learning. The analysis of existing scientific literature highlights the growing interest in creating emotional intelligence models, particularly within the realm of serious games. As part of this investigation, the author introduces a classification of emotional intelligence models that demonstrates their conceptuality. This work proposes the integration of emotional intelligence into game dynamics to enrich the landscape of emotional intelligence assessment and development. One key aspect of this approach is viewing emotional intelligence as a means to cultivate higher-order feelings, such as moral, aesthetic, social, intellectual, and the joy of knowledge and empathy. These emotions are integral elements of a “hot” system, emphasizing their relevance to authentic, non-digital cultural experiences. The dynamic emotional intelligence model introduced here serves to nurture essential skills, including situational cognitive reassessment and “emotional work”, leading to congruence in felt and expressed emotions. This model identifies the interplay of game aesthetics, mechanics, and dynamics as pivotal zones for the formation of higher feelings. The article argues that games intended to stimulate emotional intelligence should not induce a flow state that narrows the player's cognitive scope and inhibits critical thinking. To counteract this, the author suggests incorporating pauses, live communication, and reflective analysis of one's emotions within the gaming experience. The article explores the transformation of impersonal emotional intelligence test questions into game components encompassing mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics. It outlines strategies for active and deeper learning, facilitating an enriched understanding of emotional intelligence through gaming. The recommendations derived from this discussion can be applied to an array of games under the dynamic emotional intelligence model, making it a valuable resource for educational game design. The proposed dynamic model of emotional intelligence within computer games emerges as a universal and versatile tool. It can function as a pedagogical framework for the development of student's emotional intelligence, enabling educators to harness the power of games for emotional growth. This model serves as a canvas for game designers, offering creative possibilities for the development of new computer-based educational games that target emotional intelligence. This article demonstrates that playing games can indeed stimulate emotional intelligence by fostering active and deeper learning. By incorporating emotional intelligence into gaming dynamics, it is possible to create more engaging and effective learning experiences, ultimately promoting the formation of higher feelings and a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence.

The Effects of a Computer Game (Healthy Rat King) on Preschool Children's Nutritional Knowledge and Junk Food Intake Behavior: Nonrandomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundPlaying computer-aided games could enhance children’s interest in learning about nutritional knowledge and eventually promote healthy dietary intake behavior.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a computer game (Healthy Rat King) in improving the knowledge on nutrition and junk food intake among preschool children in Taiwan.MethodsThis was a quasi-experimental study that utilized the computer game Healthy Rat King as the nutrition education tool. We recruited 104 preschool children (aged 5-6 years) from preschools in central Taiwan, who were assigned to either the experimental group (n=56) or the control group (n=48). In the experimental group, a 1-hour computer-based educational game intervention was included in the course for 4 consecutive weeks. The control group did not receive this intervention.ResultsThe level of nutritional knowledge for children in the experimental group was significantly higher than those in the control group after 4 weeks (P=.002). Furthermore, the frequency of consumption of chocolate, candies, and ice cream (high-calorie junk food) was reduced in the experimental group. There was also no significant difference in the consumption of candy and chocolate (P=.54), ice cream and ice pops (P=.21), cake (P=.92), biscuit (P=.98), soft drinks (P=.52), and fruit juice and sugary drinks (P=.31) between the 2 groups in the posttest.ConclusionsTeaching using a computer game could improve children’s nutritional knowledge. However, the intake frequency of junk food among children in the experimental group showed no significant difference from those in the control group.

Simulation as a Tool to Illustrate Clinical Pharmacology Concepts to Healthcare Program Learners.

Purpose of ReviewThis article provides an overview of simulation as an effective and evolving tool for teaching clinical pharmacology within the health professions. Further, opportunities for positioning this methodology to meet current educational challenges are presented.Recent FindingsClinical pharmacology is an essential core competency for all health professionals, correlating with ability to appropriately and safely prescribe, administer, or optimize medication regimens. Computer-assisted learning became the earliest form of simulation applied to pharmacology teaching, arising from increasing pressure to deviate from animal and tissue experiments in undergraduate education in the 1990s. In the last decade, high fidelity patient simulation, using manikin technology, has demonstrated benefit in building connectivity between knowledge and clinical application within patient care. Serious games, or computer-based educational games, provide an alternative method for creating context, with potential realized for newer technologies like augmented reality. These tools, while beneficial, are not applied in a uniform manner across programs. We advocate for routine incorporation of these tools as they offer significant opportunities to address the challenges faced in today’s healthcare education, particularly with the need for continued social distancing and limitations on in-person educational engagement during coronavirus. Partnership with faculty utilizing simulation in other areas of the curriculum will assist in overcoming potential barriers to implementation.SummarySimulation provides various methods that have significant potential to address the challenges in today’s provision of clinical pharmacology education, especially with new directives for social distancing and limitations for in-person educational engagement.

Effects of Playing an Educational Math Game That Incorporates Learning by Teaching

This study tested the effects of implementing a narrative computer-based educational game within a middle-school math class. Gameplay consisted of navigating through a virtual spaceship and completing missions by periodically engaging in learning-by-teaching activities that involved helping an avatar solve math problems. In a pretest/posttest matched-groups design, 58 middle-school students either played the game for 10 hours over 4 days in place of their typical math instruction (game group), or they received conventional math instruction that consisted of a matched set of practice problems (control group). Contrary to our hypotheses, results from posttest measures indicated no significant differences in learning outcomes or motivation between the two groups. Importantly, supplementary observational data indicated that students in the game group spent much of their time during gameplay engaging in activities unrelated to the educational content of the game (e.g., navigating the virtual world) and only 20% of their time engaging in learning-by-teaching activities. These results highlight the importance of designing educational games that effectively balance features intended to entertain learners and features intended to promote learning. Implications for implementing educational games into classroom instruction are discussed.

A Pilot study to assess the impacts of game-based construction learning, using scratch, on students’ multi-step equation-solving performance

ABSTRACTThis study examined the effects of students’ construction of computer-based educational games, using Scratch, on their mathematical equation-solving performance and their attitudes towards learning mathematics with the assistance of technology. A one-group, pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study design, was adopted. A total of 89 seventh grade students from three classes at a public school in Beijing, China, offering 9 years of compulsory education, participated in Scratch-based mathematical game-making activities. Data were collected via an equations-solving test, surveys, interviews and member checking, and pairwise t-tests were performed for data analysis. The results indicated significant improvements in students’ equation-solving performance and in their attitudes towards learning mathematics with the assistance of technology.

Relationship between Designing Computer-based Educational Games, and Learning Motivation among Elementary Students

Background: Motivation is an important factor in learning. Educational games increase the learning motivation and understanding of students by creating a sense of joy, satisfaction and involvement. However, it is necessary to incorporate learning elements into the games, differently. In this study, the researcher tried to provide a model for designing educational games and determining its relationship with learning motivation. Materials and Methods: Components of the model for designing educational games were first determined qualitatively. Then, the relationship between the educational games designed and students' learning motivation was determined. A self-made questionnaire, with elements of educational game designing along with another questionnaire was used to determine the learning motivation. The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and independent t-test. Results: The model, with 4 main components and 26 sub-components, was designed. That set of various elements, including: the rules, objectives, tools, results and feedbacks, accidents, challenges and interactions displayed in the context of the game, along with instructional design component such as analysis, design, development, utilization and evaluation were used. After implementation of the pattern and designing the States of Matter lesson in the science book for the third graders, the results showed that there is a significant correlation between the use of designed educational game and components of the students’ learning motivation (r= 0.85 and P=0.01). Conclusion: According to this study given the relationship between the use of educational games and motivation to learn, it can be concluded that the educational games designed according to scientific principles could lead to the improved students’ motivation and learning.

Improving the Effectiveness of Compute-Based Educational Game with IMS Learning Design

This article employed the concept of IMS learning design (LD) to realize the balance of “educational function” and “entertainment” in Computer-based educational game (CEG). A design structure of CEG based on activity theory was set up firstly, and then a method how to use LD to model each element in CEG was described, which was illustrated by an integration case as well. Finally, the conclusion that LD used as a framework of game activity design can improve the effectiveness of CEG was got.