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A WEB based Platform for Learning Games composing –
Basic Concept and Architectural Aspects
Valentin Atanasov, Aneliya Ivanova
Abstract: This paper aims to introduce a concept for a WEB based platform for learning games
composing. The learning games should take its own place in the educational process therefore the defining
of architecture of learning game is needed. This architecture could serve as a starting point of learning
games development, based on certain didactical approach with clear defined pedagogical goals. The
possibility to implement his own learning games thru a web based platform for learning games composing
could give the instructor a powerful educational tool in the classroom.
Key words: learning games, learning game architecture, learning games composing, WEB based
platform
INTRODUCTION
There are no such significant and irreconcilable contradictions about applying the
game in classroom thru ICT. However, the big question is not whether but how to apply
games in education. This is the main concern of the teachers when they try to decide how
exactly to implement this learning method so popular and warm welcome by the students
all over the world. The teachers are not qualified to develop their own learning games that
reflect their teaching approach and usually have to use the solutions they find in the WEB.
In many cases these solutions are not stable and do not match the pedagogical strategy
used by the teacher. A WEB based platform for learning games composing that will enable
the teacher to create learning games in a way that correspond to his teaching strategy
could provide a solution of this problem.
There are many exposed studies which stand for that computer games have inherent
educational features [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. But from the learning point of view there are slight
differences between computer games and learning games as a whole in the classroom.
Moreover there are certain defined principles of what computer games should correspond
to in order to become learning games [2,6,8]. This study synthesized a set of principles,
determining the main learning games characteristics.
The basic principles that must be taken into account are as follows:
 Reaching pedagogical goals – Learning game should gain the pedagogical goals
defined by the teacher;
 Targeted subject – The learning game must have clear targeted subject that
corresponds to the current curriculum.
 Platform independent – The release of learning game must be executed/used on
various platforms without obstacles on the any of classroom`s computer systems.
 WEB based – The learning game should have features allowing more accessibility
in the existing browsers.
 Game levels – A good learning game should have a game level manner. Every
level should be considered as appropriate knowledge delivery stage. This adopted
(eventually) knowledge are purpose of the didactical learning model.
 Multimedia content – The learning game should provide programing tools for
delivering knowledge by the educator using various types of media data – graphics, text,
video or audio.
 Challenge and fun – To be effective learning game should consists of balanced
and undivided instructional and fun parts alongside gameplay body. This should be
considering as function of GUI, narrative, graphics and other features like sound and FX
effects.
 Intuitive gameplay and navigation – The GUI should be designed at high intuitive
level and to provide easy to use gameplay for achieving pedagogical class goals by every
student. Learning game which worries some of the students has bad learning game
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features. Learning games that is too easy to play has bad learning game features[11]
(fig.1).
Figure 1: The Flow Theory and Flow Learning Game State
 Results generating – The learning game should not be zero-sum exercises. The
generated results for every student should be visible which is one of the pedagogical
methods for reaching pedagogical goals
 Base educational functionality – learning game should provide educational
oriented subject corresponding to its topic.
 Results monitoring – The learning game should provide program tools for viewing
and processing student`s results.
 Ethical approach and respect for personality – In the learning game should be
incorporated common accepted ethics and respect for personality in all gameplay aspect
(hidden or visible).
 Well-structured help or guide – The learning game should have easy to find and
easy to use well-structured and well-explained help for the game.
 Didactical functionality – The learning game should provide program tools for
didactical implementation implied
According to various terms (learning, educational, serious, academic, gamification,
edutainment etc.) used in media for designation of computer game with learning purpose
in e-Education this article concludes the term “learning game” to be appropriate and
meaningful.
Definitions:
 Education: A System that is concerned with the methods of teaching and learning
in the schools or schools-like environments [9, 10].
 Learning: The acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or
being taught. [9,10]
 Learning game: ICT based tool by didactical methodology with clear designated
pedagogical objectives in current scientific field or fields.
ARCHITECTURE OF LEARNING GAME
The architecture of learning game relies on the following factors: Content composing
system, Educator/Teacher management tools, Database structure, Learner gameplay
tools, Help system.
The architecture of the learning game is composed on the basis of the following
system models: structural, functional and didactical. The structural model of a learning
game is implemented as shown at fig.3. It shows objects and static relationships who build
the learning game, including elements like game engine, graphic user interface and
content types. The functional model is presented at fig.4 and didactical model is shown at
fig.5
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Figure 3: Structural model of learning game (class diagram)
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Figure 4: Functional model of learning game
The learning game follows the phases, presented above. Crucial role here plays the
teacher with scenarios and learning content allowing effective achievement of pedagogical
objectives. The didactical model is in relation to instructional goals and consists of
pedagogical approaches and teaching methods. The didactical model of a learning game
follows the pattern shown at fig.5.
Figure 5: Didactical model of learning game
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ARCHITECTURE OF THE PLATFORM
On the basis of the presented above architecture of learning game, an architecture of
WEB based platform for learning game composing is synthesized. The proposed
architecture incorporates one of the most spread WEB application patterns – the Model
View Controller (MVC). The architecture is presented in a high level of abstraction at fig.6.
Figure 6: Architecture of WEB based platform for learning games composing
CONCLUSIONS
The implementation and use of applications built thru the WEB based platform for
learning games composing would led to the following benefits:
 This architecture provides a pattern for future WEB based learning platforms
development;
 Usage of well-known WEB architectural pattern will reduce the time of the
development process;
 A wide range of meaningful learning games more closely related to the curriculum
and the pedagogical approach of the teachers could be implemented;
 The teachers, instructors or educators will have a powerful e-learning tool in the
classroom;
 The easy-to use model of producing learning games will raise the motivation of the
teachers to create and use learning games this way significantly increasing the
students’ motivation in classroom.
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[9] Oxford Dictionaries (URL: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/)(Visited at
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[10] Encyclopaedia Britannica
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[11] Csikszentmihalyi, M., : BEYOND BOREDOM AND ANXIETY, Jossey-Bass
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ABOUT THE AUTHORS
MSc. eng. Valentin Atanasov, PhD Student, Department of Computing, University of
Ruse, Phone: +359 885 866 118, Е-mail: [email protected].
Assoc. Prof. Aneliya Ivanova, PhD, Department of Computing, University of Ruse,
Phone: +359 82 888 827, Е-mail: [email protected]
The paper has been reviewed.