Supporting Online Learning
with Games
JingTao Yao
DongWon Kim
Joseph P. Herbert
Department of Computer Science
[email protected]
www.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao
Contents

Web-based Learning Support Systems
(WLSS)

Learning Order Indexing

Treasure Hunt Game

Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for
Learning
Online Learning

Fulfilling education goal

Using electronic communications &
Information technology

Various forms of learning contents

No limitation on time and no
geographical restrictions

Assistance from groups of experts

Cost effective learning environment
Student-centered Form of Education

Goal of online learning

Personalized education

Choosing best suitable course

Replaying learning contents

Skipping well-known parts

Customized tests
Online Learning

Lack of motivation of learning

Insufficient flexibility of learning

Difficulty of finding appropriate
learning materials

Incorporation of Web-based
game with WLSS
Why the Web?

Good accessibility

Student-friendly interface

Capability of delivering various
forms of learning contents

Text, audio, graphics, animation,
video

Vast resource for learning
Web-based Learning Support Systems

Enhanced learning support
systems with Web technology

Supporting teacher and student
for education

Conducting education with own
teaching method on the Web

Alternatives to traditional methods
of learning
Design Principles of WLSS

Encouraging in collaboration

Adapted contents based on each
student’s knowledge

Interactive interface

Evaluation of student’s learning

Stimulating motivation of learning
Web-based Game

No CD or DVD to install

Online delivery of game software

No limitation on time and no
geographical restrictions to play

Depending on Internet speed
Web-based Learning Game

Web-based game adapted for
learning

Facilitating motivation of
learning

Encouraging in collaboration
with massively multiplayer games

Complement to Web-based
learning (no motivation)
Architecture of WLSS
Contents Management System
Internet
USER
Learning
Order
Indexing
Database
Domain
Knowledge
Base
Conventional
Indexing
Database
Information Retrieval Support System
Teaching Support System
Web-based Learning Game System
Course
Knowledge
Base
Academic
Dictionary
Database
User
Knowledge
Base
Membership Management System
I
N
T
E
R
F
A
C
E
Learning Order Indexing

Indexing learning objects by learning
order based on student’s background
knowledge

Indicating user preference

Representing degree of relative
difficulty between learning objects

Representing degree of relative
difference between learning objects

Represented by Term Relationship
Graph
Term Relationship Graph

(t1,1,10)
Hierarchy graph G=(V, A)
Vertices V=(t, l, s)
A: a set of ordered pairs of vertices
(t2,2,10) (t3,2,10) (t4,2,15)
t: salient word or phrase
l: level of hierarchy
s: a number of sentences needed to describe t
(t5,3,15)
(t6,3,17)

Reachable t
{t1, t2 , t5 , t7 }, {t1, t3 , t5 , t7 }, {t1, t4 , t6 , t7 }
(t7,4,16)

Unreachable t
{t2 , t3 , t4 }, {t5, t6 }, {t2, t3 , t6 }, {t4, t5}
Treasure Hunt

Finding objects hidden by
others: Originally an outdoor activity for
children to find objects hidden by others.

Searching for clues and
answers using Internet: In the
online activity, a treasure hunt is an activity in
which one searches for clues and answers
using the Internet.
Treasure Hunt Model

Good problem-solving approach to
learning ( Marcus and Beck, 2003 )

Effective model for inquiry-based
learning ( Hamelin, 2004 )

Useful to review students’ learning
with fun and thrills ( Blas et al., 2004 )
A Treasure Hunt Game

Web-based single player game

Adventure game

Stage-based game

Finding some hidden treasure
among fake treasure with given
clues
A Treasure Hunt Game

Unearthing treasure and exploring
treasure islands and dungeons

Threats from wild animals, pirates and
so forth

Helps and clues from NPCs

Library event

Quiz event
Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning

Treasure => concept to be learned

Clues => description of treasure
concepts

Fake treasure and threat => concept
unrelated to treasure concepts

All names of the game objects except
for fake treasure and threats =>
concepts related to treasure concepts
Adapted Treasure Hunt Game for Learning

NPC personifying a concept

Library event => Web searching for
treasure concept

Quiz event => Testing for measuring
student’s understanding

Dynamically generated next stage
storyline with next concepts to be
learned
Architecture of Web-based
Learning Game Subsystem
Learning-Oriented Search Engine
Treasure Hunt Game
Game Database
User Knowledge Base
Clue Development Engine
Membership Management
Course
Knowledge Base
Academic
Dictionary Database
Interface
Example: Part of Term Relationship
Graph for Textbook
(introduction,1,17)
(text,5,5)
(ascii,5,3)
(data communications,2,17)
(extended
ascii,5,3)
(simplex,
7,4)
(components,3,17)
(iso,5,2)
(data representation,4,1)
(unicode, 5,4)
(direction data
flow,6,1)
(half
duplex,
7,6)
(numbers,5,4)
(images, 5,13)
(audio, 5,4)
(video, 5,2)
(full
duplex,
7,6)
(networks,8,2)
Example: Game Objects and
Concepts
Game Objects
Learning Concepts
Event 1
Introduction
NPC 1
Data communications
NPC 2
Components
Place 1
Protocol
Place 2
Threat 1
Data representation, Extended
ASCII, Unicode, ISO, Numbers,
Images, Audio, Video
Text
Threat 2
ASCII
Example: A Treasure Map
Start
End
Quiz
Data Representation
Event 1
Mountain
Images
ISO
Audio
Data communications
Extende
d
ASCII
Text
Video
Unicode
Numbers
ASCII
Components
Protocol Village
Event
Fake treasure
Threat
Real treasure
Help
Conclusions

The Goal of WLSS is to provide a highly
motivated learning environment with
well-organized knowledge base.

Web-based learning game subsystem in
WLSS stimulates students motivation
of learning.

Learning order index represents
student’s preference about learning
objects.

The treasure hunt game is a good
model for Web-based learning game.
Supporting Online Learning
with Games
JingTao Yao
DongWon Kim
Joseph P. Herbert
Department of Computer Science
[email protected]
www.cs.uregina.ca/~jtyao
Where is Regina?