master's project idea presentation
DESCRIPTION
Overview of an idea for a science puzzle game. The project is currently undergoing development, and will be presented in Summer 2010 for my Learning, Design and Technology Master's project.TRANSCRIPT
Master’s Project Idea
Catherine Harrell
Learning, Design and Technology
March 4, 2010
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Science requires system understanding: how
do parts fit together to make a whole?
Textbooks aren’t well suited for communicating
how a system works. Many students are
memorizing instead of visualizing.
Secondary problem: Girls are poorly
represented in the sciences.
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
High school girls enrolled in a biology course
Needs:
Better ways to learn about systems
Resources for studying / homework
Incentive to learn science in the first place
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Machines of Perception
Interactive 3D Science Puzzle
Students learn about sensory physiology by building
perceptual systems from scratch. The game guides
them through constructing a retina, an eardrum, and
other complex systems out of simple parts.
Available online, can be used at home or in
the classroom. Easy interface, offers lots of
resources and information.
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
User tests: Is the interface easy to use?
Qualitative surveys: Is it fun? Is it improving
science understanding? How well can the student
explain the systems to someone else?
Quantitative assessments: Changes in grades?
Test scores? Pre-test and post-test for knowledge?
Follow-up studies: Do students remember the
information after they’ve played? Can they apply
system understanding to other areas of science?
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1
3
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4
5
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4 6
5
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4 6
57
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4 6
57
8
How can we assess system understanding?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too hard?
How do we make sure the
game isn’t too easy?
Which systems should be
learned first?
What would motivate students to
play this game?
Can we quantitatively
measure how helpful the
game has been?
How can we make it fun?
How do we know if these skills are translating to other areas?
How do we encourage students to seek out more information?
1 2
3
4 6
57
9
8
Learning Problem
Target Audience
Description of the product
Assessment plans
Challenges