MIT-Ubiq-Games_HHL2009

Jennifer GroffUS-UK Fulbright [email protected]

MIT STEP (Scheller Teacher Education Program)

http://education.mit.eduwww.educationarcade.org

Gaming Together to Learn Together:PSims & UbiqGames for Learning Complex Systems

mailto:[email protected]


http://education.mit.edu


http://www.educationarcade.org


Gaming Together to Learn Together:PSims & UbiqGames for Learning Complex Systems

Participatory Simulations Engage learners in computer mediated

simulations

Provide rich learning experiences where technology and social interaction are key

Use relatively simple and cheap technologies (Palms<$100) and IR peer to peer communication

pSims

Examples from the lab...Live Long and Prosper (a.k.a. Genetics)• Can you decode a genome so that you

can live long and prosper?• Can you apply the genetic analysis you

learned on paper?

Sugar and Spice • Economics-Trading• Negotiation, optimizing trade strategies

Big Fish - Little Fish• Resource Management

Virus, Tit-for-Tat, Networks…

pSims

Customization in the Classroom• Preferences screen

• Typically accessed by teacher to:

• Pre-set underlying model

• Prevent students from altering model/cheating

• Secret code is ?!?

• Preferences can be BEAMED from one Palm to another

pSims

Why Handhelds?PortabilitySocial InteractivityContext SensitivityConnectivityIndividuality

Design Principles• Fostering learning• Integrating games and learning• Facilitating peer to peer / social interaction• Balancing collaboration and competition• Relying on action off computers• Varying timescale• Having fun

pSims

Learning GoalsK-16

• Engage in authentic science• Foster collaborative learning• Capitalize on game play motivation• Solve complex problems with complex solutions

Informal Education• Encourage deeper and broader interaction• Connect and collaborate with others

Training• Promote teamwork and collaboration• Facilitate role playing• Provide new perspectives on real problems• Allow safe play

•

pSims

Sample

The Virus Game• 1 Palm = 1 Person

• Enter unique name (ABC=keyboard)

To Meet someone:• Align Palm IR ports on both machines (4 -

12 inches apart)

• One (and only one) of you hit “Meet” button

• If successful, their name will appear in your list (in the order you met them)

pSims

Virtual pets with BiologyBirds and "owers

Like Darwin’s Finches in the Galapagos

PalmagotchiAnytime, Anywhere

• Foraging• Mating• Managing Risks

PalmagotchiGame Play

Pilot studies in two biology classesCaring about creatures (“sort of alive” - Turkle)

Led to pursuit of strategies for success and learning about evolution

Evolution is dynamic and depends on the environmentDemand for “mini-games”

Needs a more ubiquitous platform

PalmagotchiResults

Weatherlings UbiqGames

Weatherlings UbiqGamesFeatures

MultiplayerSingle PlayerWeb-basedCollaborative

First Game Pokemon + Weather Prediction

Maintain creatures and battle creatures Impacted by “arena weather”

http://hlc.mitstep.org/weather

click on “Sign up!”

code: hlcgame









DRAW phase• four cards maximum at one time

PLAY phase• make a forecast - attack won't take place for another six hours • play the card you think will adapt best to the situation

ATTACK phase• examine the weather data, make a prediction (3 hours from now)• select a Weatherling from your #eld and the move that you think will

work best under those conditions• select the opponent’s Weatherling you want to target

Note: Weatherlings will take extra damage if their affinity is weakened by the weather condition so lookout for those opportunities!

UbiqGamesPalmagotchiHow to Battle

Scoring• One-tenth (rounded down) of the total damage or healing will be

added to your score• You score 10 extra points for sidelining an opponent's creature and 20

extra points for attacking the opponent directly

Ending• The battle ends after the ATTACK phase of the #nal round. • Most points WINS!









DRAW phase• four cards maximum at one time

PLAY phase• make a forecast - attack won't take place for another six hours • play the card you think will adapt best to the situation

ATTACK phase• examine the weather data, make a prediction (3 hours from now)• select a Weatherling from your #eld and the move that you think will

work best under those conditions• select the opponent’s Weatherling you want to target

Note: Weatherlings will take extra damage if their affinity is weakened by the weather condition so lookout for those opportunities!


WeatherlingsData snapshot – 3 days x 20 kids200 battles1250 battle rounds2250 forecasts5000 weather data points980 cards = learning time

UbiqGames

UbiqBio UbiqGames

What they are: Casual, Mobile & Multiplayer

CASUAL (not shallow)Short bursts of game play: Able to #t into schedulesShallow learning curve: Accessible to all

MOBILEPlay anytime and anywhere: Can reach many players on many

platforms

MULTIPLAYERInteractions are rich and complex: Facilitates collaboration and

competition

pSims

= Games “in” class

UbiqGames&

Jennifer GroffUS-UK Fulbright [email protected]

MIT STEP (Scheller Teacher Education Program)

http://education.mit.eduwww.educationarcade.org

Gaming Together to Learn Together:Participatory Simulations & UbiqGames for Learning Complex Systems





