Geometry game for preschool
Suomeksi
Experienced teachers know that when a pupil is asked to teach skills or pass on knowledge to another pupil, both pupils learn. This fact has not been used in educational games. In games, the machine is the teacher, tutor or controller of the learning process. This is mostly because of a lack of technology or game AI that enables players to teach conceptually challenging themes while being aware and guiding players through this teaching process.
In geometry game player is asked to teach an octopus that wants to learn geometry. The teaching is done by constructing 'which one of the shapes does not belong into the group' types of questions.
The game consists of two main areas: 1) the teaching room, where pupils teach skills and knowledge to an octopus and 2) the competition area, where a pupil can send his/her octopus to compete against other. The other octopus (the opponent) has been taught by some other real life pupil, which gives a collaborative dimension to the game. The competition is based on the results of previous teaching.
Playing educational games, as well as learning, should be seen as being an active process, which is meaningful from the subject’s point of view. If the learning game is a combination of an interactive textbook and subject independent game, it probably is not a good learning game. In the geometry game the motivation to teach and learn is based on the need to teach a virtual pet, the challenge of competing against others’ virtual pets.
Download and play:
Windows 98/2000/XP >>> Download [6 MB] <<<
Mac (tested on OS 10) >>> Download [9 MB] <<<
Instructions:
Download the game
Game uses 8080 port, if your firewall asks if the port is allowed, you have to give a permission in order to play the game.
All data is in the server. The same game can be installed in several computers.
At first, a player should make a user account. Each user account and its data are stored in the server.
Player can play the game, have a pause and continue from another computer if she wants. No data is loss.
Players are encouraged to see the instructions -animation.
Tips:
Teaching requires patience, it takes approximately an hour to teach near-perfect octopus.
If you teach wrongly, the octopus learns wrongly. As in real life, learning away is more difficult than learning new knowledge.
In the rank, there is only half of the population listed. Individual player's score can be seen by giving one's username into the form.
Scientific publications:
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2008). Learning-by-Teaching in Educational Games. In proceedings of Ed-Media 2008. 30.6.-4.7.2008, Vienna, Austria.
Kiili, K. & Ketamo, H. (2007) Exploring learning mechanism in educational games. Journal of Computing and Information Technology, vol. 15(4), pp. 319-324.
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2007). Ways to support reflective thinking in educational games: Gaming Strategies and Learning. In proceeding of Online Educa Berlin 2007, 28-30.11.2007.
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2007). Learning by Teaching: A Case Study on Explorative Behaviour in an Educational Games. In Ruokamo, Kangas, Lehtonen & Kumpulainen (eds.) The Power of Media in Education- NBE 2007 Conference, Rovaniemi, Finland, 13-15.6.2007, pp 197-203.
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2006). AnimalClass – Animals that learn. In proceeding of Online Educa Berlin 2006 -conference, Berlin, Germany, 29.11. - 1.12.2006.
Presentations (downloadable):
The following presentations includes also results received with other games, derived from this geometry game.
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2006). AnimalClass–Animals that learn. Presented at Online Educa Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 30.11.2006. >>> Download [1 MB] <<<
Ketamo, H. & Suominen, M. (2007). Learning by Teaching: A Case Study on Explorative Behaviour in an Educational Games. Presented at Network Based Education -conference, NBE2007, Rovaniemi, Finland 14.6.2007. >>> Download [2 MB] <<<
Kiili, K. & Ketamo, H. (2007) Exploring learning mechanism in educational games. Presented at Information Technology Interfaces, Cavtat, Croatia, 25.6.2007. >>> Download [2 MB] <<<
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