The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game

Jan L. Plass; Bruce D. Homer; Elizabeth O. Hayward; Jonathan Frye; Tsu Ting Huang; Melissa Biles; Murphy Stein; Ken Perlin

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7

The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game

Jan L. Plass, Bruce D. Homer, Elizabeth O. Hayward, Jonathan Frye, Tsu Ting Huang, Melissa Biles, Murphy Stein, Ken Perlin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

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.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings
Pages	65-71
Number of pages	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7
State	Published - 2012
Event	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 - Darmstadt, Germany Duration: Sep 18 2012 → Sep 20 2012

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume	7516 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Other

Other	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
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Darmstadt
Period	9/18/12 → 9/20/12

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Theoretical Computer Science
General Computer Science

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7

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Plass, J. L., Homer, B. D., Hayward, E. O., Frye, J., Huang, T. T., Biles, M., Stein, M., & Perlin, K. (2012). The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game. In E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings (pp. 65-71). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 7516 LNCS). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7

The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game. / Plass, Jan L.; Homer, Bruce D.; Hayward, Elizabeth O. et al.
E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings. 2012. p. 65-71 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); Vol. 7516 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Plass, JL, Homer, BD, Hayward, EO, Frye, J, Huang, TT, Biles, M, Stein, M & Perlin, K 2012, The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game. in E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics), vol. 7516 LNCS, pp. 65-71, 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, Darmstadt, Germany, 9/18/12. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7

Plass JL, Homer BD, Hayward EO, Frye J, Huang TT, Biles M et al. The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game. In E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings. 2012. p. 65-71. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)). doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-33466-5_7

Plass, Jan L. ; Homer, Bruce D. ; Hayward, Elizabeth O. et al. / The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game. E-Learning and Games for Training, Education, Health and Sports - 7th International Conference, Edutainment 2012 and 3rd International Conference, GameDays 2012, Proceedings. 2012. pp. 65-71 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)).

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The effect of learning mechanics design on learning outcomes in a computer-based geometry game

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