ERIC Number: EJ1227537
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2323-7112
EISSN: N/A
Digital Gaming for Evolutionary Biology Learning: The Case Study of Parasite Race, an Augmented Reality Location-Based Game
Aivelo, Tuomas; Uitto, Anna
LUMAT: International Journal on Math, Science and Technology Education, v4 n1 p1-26 2016
Games have been used for a long time in teaching and learning. The increasing use of mobile phones makes it possible to link learning outside the classroom with augmented reality (AR). We tested how well the learning of conceptual models can be facilitated by AR games. We present a game designed for the in-service teacher-training workshop to model evolutionary and ecological relationships explicitly. The game, Parasite Race, models the life cycles of three different parasites and allows player to choose between two evolutionary strategies. We tested the game with experienced teachers and revealed a wide range of different gaming strategies: some of the teachers were able to reflect their game strategy and choose appropriate actions right away whereas some of the teachers did not and lost their motivation quickly. We reflect on the experience of programming a simple AR location-based game and on the usability of simple games in the educational context.
Descriptors: Biology, Evolution, Computer Games, Educational Games, Handheld Devices, Computer Simulation, Inservice Teacher Education, Experienced Teachers, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Foreign Countries, Programming, Usability, Game Based Learning, Science Education
LUMA Centre Finland. A.I. Vrtasen aukio 1, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358-50-348-0567; e-mail: editor@lumat.fi; Web site: https://www.lumat.fi/index.php/lumat/index
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland (Helsinki)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A