TY - GEN
T1 - The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game
AU - Plass, Jan L.
AU - Homer, Bruce D.
AU - Hayward, Elizabeth O.
AU - Frye, Jonathan
AU - Huang, Tsu Ting
AU - Biles, Melissa
AU - Stein, Murphy
AU - Perlin, Ken
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - A computer-based geometry game was adapted to allow for play using a conceptual rule or an arithmetic problem-solving mechanic. Participants (n = 91) from an urban middle school were randomly assigned to experimental conditions. Results suggest that play in the number condition was more situationally interesting than play in the rule condition. Participants in the rule condition were found to perform better in the game than those in the number condition. Learning outcome results suggest that in the number condition, but not the rule condition, playing more levels in the game diminishes the gain from pretest to posttest. For the design of games for learning, results highlight the importance of choosing a game mechanic that reflects the intended learning outcomes.
AB - A computer-based geometry game was adapted to allow for play using a conceptual rule or an arithmetic problem-solving mechanic. Participants (n = 91) from an urban middle school were randomly assigned to experimental conditions. Results suggest that play in the number condition was more situationally interesting than play in the rule condition. Participants in the rule condition were found to perform better in the game than those in the number condition. Learning outcome results suggest that in the number condition, but not the rule condition, playing more levels in the game diminishes the gain from pretest to posttest. For the design of games for learning, results highlight the importance of choosing a game mechanic that reflects the intended learning outcomes.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84871401510&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84871401510&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7
DO - 10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84871401510
SN - 9783642334658
T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
SP - 65
EP - 71
BT - E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings
T2 - 7th International Conference on E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference on Serious Games for Sports and Health, GameDays 2012
Y2 - 18 September 2012 through 20 September 2012
ER -