A Technique for Mapping Mathematics Content to Game Design
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v2i4.95Keywords:
game design, learning mathematics, mathematics instructional design, mathematics learning games.Abstract
Research has shown that games can be valuable tools for learning mathematics. In this paper, we explain how we tackled the challenge of mapping mathematics content to games in the design of mathematics learning games. We present a unique technique for mapping mathematics content to game design. The technique can be used to improve the game design process by guiding the designer through one of the more challenging stages of the design process, namely, that of incorporating mathematics content into a game. The technique is based on several factors such as mathematics learning pedagogy, game type categorization, the mathematics curriculum, and past research experience. The technique is unique since it focuses on guiding the game designer through the process of mapping the mathematics content to the game idea. Additionally, the technique incorporates several important game design principles. A preliminary evaluation of the technique was conducted with several amateur game designers. Although there are several limitations of the technique, the evaluation shows that it was useful in helping the game designers to design suitable mathematics learning games.
References
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[27] Björk, S., Holopainen, J., “Patterns in Game Designs”, Charles River Media Game Development: Ma, USA, 2004.
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[29] Gee, J. P., Good video games and good learning. In Phi Kappa Phi Forum, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Vol. 85, Nr. 2, pp. 33-37, 2005.
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[31] Kalloo, V., Mohan, P., An Investigation Into Mobile Learning for High School Mathematics, International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, Vol. 3, Nr. 3, pp. 60-77, July-September, 2011.
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[35] Koster, R., “Practical Creativity”, Lecture at Game Developers Conference Next featuring App Developers Conference, Los Angeles, CA. http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming2/presentations/practical-creativity/, 3-4 November, 2014.
[2] Prensky, M., Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the horizon, Vol. 9, Nr. 5, pp. 1-6, 2001. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
[3] Garris, R., Ahlers, R., Driskell, J. E., Games, motivation, and learning: A research and practice model. Simulation and Gaming, Vol. 33, Nr. 4, pp. 441-467, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1046878102238607
[4] Connolly, T. M., Stansfield, M., Hainey, T., An application of games?based learning within software engineering. British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 38, Nr. 3, pp. 416-428, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2007.00706.x
[5] Gee, J. P., What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy? ACM Computers in Entertainment (CIE), Vol. 1, Nr. 1, pp. 20-20, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/950566.950595
[6] Carr, J., Does Math Achievement h’APP’en when iPads and Game-Based Learning are Incorporated into Fifth-Grade Mathematics Instruction? Journal of Information Technology Education: Research, Vol. 11 Nr. 1, pp. 269-286, 2012.
[7] Tobias, S., Fletcher, J. D., What do we know about the learning effectiveness of computer games. In AERA 2008 Conference, New York, 24-28 March, 2008.
[8] Papastergiou, M., Exploring the potential of computer and video games for health and physical education: A literature review. Computers & Education, Vol. 53, Nr. 3, pp. 603-622, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2009.04.001
[9] Koster, R., “Theory of fun for game design”. O'Reilly Media, Inc.: Sebastopol, CA, 2013.
[10] Salingaros, N. A., Architecture, patterns, and mathematics. Nexus Network Journal, Vol. 1, Nr. 1-2, pp. 75-86, 1999. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00004-998-0006-0
[11] Ke, F., Grabowski, B., Game playing for maths learning: cooperative or not? British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 38, Nr. 2, pp. 249-259, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2006.00593.x
[12] Rosas, R., Nussbaum, M., Cumsille, P., Marianov, V., Correa, M., Flores, P., Grau, V., et al, Beyond Nintendo: design and assessment of educational video games for first and second grade students. Journal of Computers & Education, Vol. 40, Nr. 1, pp. 71-94, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(02)00099-4
[13] Klawe, M., “When does the use of computer games and other interactive multimedia software help students learn mathematics?” Proceedings of NCTM (National Council of Teachers in Mathematics) Standards 2000 Technology Conference. Arlington, VA, USA. Retrieved April 2, 2015 from http://mathforum.org/technology/papers/papers/klawe.html, 5-6 June 1998.
[14] Asplin, P., Frid, S., Sparrow, L., “Game playing to develop mental computation:
A case study.” In Grootenboer, P., Zevenbergen, R. and Chinnappan, M., (Eds.),
Identities, cultures, and learning spaces, Proceedings of the 29th Conference of the
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Canberra, Australia, pp. 46-53, 2006.
[15] Becker, K., Parker, J. R., “The Guide to Computer Simulations and Games”. John Wiley & Sons: IN, USA, 2011.
[16] Rogers, S., “Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design”. John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey, USA, 2010.
[17] Schell, J., “The Art of Game Design: A book of lenses.” CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group: Boca Raton, FL, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1201/b17723
[18] Salen, K., Zimmerman, E., “Rules of play: Game design fundamentals”. MIT press: Massachusetts, USA, 2004.
[19] Torrente, J., Moreno-Ger, P., Fernández-Manjón, B., Sierra, J. L., “Instructor-oriented authoring tools for educational videogames.” Proceedings of Advanced Learning Technologies, ICALT'08. Eighth IEEE International Conference, Santander, Spain, pp. 516-518, 1-5 July 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/icalt.2008.177
[20] Abdullah, N. A., Kamaruddin, R.H.R.A., Razak, Z., Yusoff, Z. M., “A Toolkit Design Framework for Authoring Multimedia Game-Oriented Educational Content.” Proceedings of Advanced Learning Technologies, ICALT'08. Eighth IEEE International Conference. Santander, Spain, pp.144-145, 1-5 July 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/icalt.2008.216
[21] Gómez-Martín, M. A., Gómez-Martín, P. P., González-Calero, P. A., “Data Driven Software Architecture for Game-Based Learning Systems”, In Taisch, M. and Cassina, J. (Eds.), Proceedings of the 1st Learning with Games Conference, Sophia Antipolis, France, pp. 229 – 236. 24-26 September, 2007.
[22] Fanning, E., Game Mods: Customizable Learning in a K16 setting. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education (IJICTE), Vol. 2, Nr. 4, pp. 15-23, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/jicte.2006100102
[23] Prensky, M., Digital game-based learning. Computers in Entertainment (CIE), Vol. 1, Nr. 1, pp. 21, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/950566.950596
[24] Tondeur, J., Van Braak, J., Valcke, M., Curricula and the use of ICT in education: Two worlds apart? British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol. 38, Nr. 6, pp. 962-976, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2006.00680.x
[25] Moreno-Ger, P., Burgos, D., Martínez-Ortiz, I., Sierra, J. L., Fernández-Manjón, B., Educational game design for online education. Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 24, Nr. 6, pp. 2530-2540, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2008.03.012
[26] Arnab, S., Lim, T., Carvalho, M. B., Bellotti, F., de Freitas, S., Louchart, S., Suttie, N., Berta, R., De Gloria, A., “Mapping learning and game mechanics for serious games analysis,” British Journal of Eucational Technology, Vol. 46, Nr. 2, pp. 391-411, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bjet.12113
[27] Björk, S., Holopainen, J., “Patterns in Game Designs”, Charles River Media Game Development: Ma, USA, 2004.
[28] Becker, K., “How Are Games Educational? Learning Theories Embodied in Games”. In Proceedings of 2nd International DIGRA Conference, “Changing Views: Worlds in Play”, Vancouva, BC, 16-20 June, 2005.
[29] Gee, J. P., Good video games and good learning. In Phi Kappa Phi Forum, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. Vol. 85, Nr. 2, pp. 33-37, 2005.
[30] Anthony, G., Walshaw, M., Effective pedagogy in mathematics, Brophy, J. (Ed.), Iterative Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) Program, Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education, 2007. http://unesco.atlasproject.eu/unesco/file/7003a59d-3f2f-4e79-9ddc-5835d113b828/c8c7fe00-c770-11e1-9b21-0800200c9a66/183624e.pdfhttp://www.ibe.unesco.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Educational_Practices/EdPractices_19.pdf
[31] Kalloo, V., Mohan, P., An Investigation Into Mobile Learning for High School Mathematics, International Journal of Mobile and Blended Learning, Vol. 3, Nr. 3, pp. 60-77, July-September, 2011.
[32] Brathwaite, B., Schreiber, I., “Challenges for game designers”. Charles River Media: Boston, MA, 2009.
[33] “Developer Satisfaction Survey 2014 – Summary Report, International Game Developers Association”, https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.igda.org/resource/collection/9215B88F-2AA3-4471-B44D-B5D58FF25DC7/IGDA_DSS_2014-Summary_Report.pdf.
[34] Sweetser, P., Wyeth, P., GameFlow: a model for evaluating player enjoyment in games. Computers in Entertainment (CIE), Vol. 3, Nr. 3, pp. 3-3, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/1077246.1077253
[35] Koster, R., “Practical Creativity”, Lecture at Game Developers Conference Next featuring App Developers Conference, Los Angeles, CA. http://www.raphkoster.com/gaming2/presentations/practical-creativity/, 3-4 November, 2014.
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2015-12-07
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Special Issue on Digital Games for Learning Mathematics
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How to Cite
A Technique for Mapping Mathematics Content to Game Design. (2015). International Journal of Serious Games, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v2i4.95
