A Coordinate Geometry Learning Environment with Game-Like Properties

Mily's World is a learning environment for coordinate geometry that has game-like properties, that is, elements of games that are engaging such as cover story, graphical representation, and animated feedback. This paper proposes that adding game-like properties to a computer tutor results in more student engagement and interest in the material. However, in addition to taking instructional time away, adding such properties imposes new limitations and difficulties in constructing content. Therefore, we have taken a measured and minimalist approach to making the original environment more game-like by weighing each additional component in terms of retaining all the learning features of a tutor and minimizing the new limitations, while exploiting the benefits of games. Sixty six students used the system who had also used Assistment, a web based tutor. Although the students were not totally enthusiastic about Mily, they still preferred it over Assistment. We also analyzed how different ...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: ITS
• Authors: Dovan Rai, Joseph E. Beck, Neil T. Heffernan
• Keywords: Game-like Properties, ITS 2010, Multimedia, Tutor, Web Based Tutor