Grant recipients:
Edith Law, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
Hadi Hosseini*, David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science
Maxwell Hartt*, School of Planning
Clarence Woudsma, School of Planning
*Graduate student
(Project timeline: September 2015 - August 2016)
Description
The primary objective of this project was to pursue new instructional development opportunities within higher education pedagogy. By integrating game-based learning, students are afforded the opportunity to build the skills necessary for the flexible, participatory, and creative workplace they are entering. Our exploratory study demonstrated the effectiveness of game-based techniques in enhancing students' in-class learning experience.
Furthermore, we compiled games, lesson plans and exceptional student work to provide a resource to assist other instructors, at the University of Waterloo and abroad, in integrating games-based learning into their curriculums.
Questions investigated
Compile and develop a set of game-based techniques applicable to a variety of disciplines and provide resources to assist other instructors in integrating game-based learning into their curricula.
Assess the effectiveness of game-based techniques in improving students' perception and interest of the topic, students' understanding of the subject matter, and creating (enhancing) teamwork and career readiness through improving social integration and teamwork.
Dissemination
- At the institutional level: Presented at the University of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference
- Hosseini, H. & M.D. Hartt. “Gamifying the Classroom: A Natural Framework for Risk Taking, Making Mistakes, and Continuous Learning”, Opportunities and New Directions Conference: Learning from Challenge and Failure, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada, April 28, 2016.
- At the national and/or international levels: Presented at the following conferences and submitting several journal articles and a book chapter
- Hartt, M.D., H. Hosseini & C. Woudsma. “Offline Games: Exploring Student Perceptions of Gamification”, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Annual Conference, London, ON, Canada, June 21-24, 2016.
- Hartt, M.D. & H. Hosseini. The Players Point of View: Evaluating Student Perception of Game-Based Learning in Higher Education, (book chapter in submission).
- Three additional journal articles in preparation.
Impact of the Project
- Teaching: Since undertaking this research, we have integrated elements of gamification regularly into our teaching. Specifically, a “game of life” was created to teach planning students about population analysis and change and a card game to teach computer science students about sorting algorithms. Furthermore, we have used Kahoot (online quiz) extensively.
- Involvement in other activities or projects: Due to the experience with this grant (and exploratory results), Hadi Hosseini and Maxwell Hart are in the process of designing and preparing a grant application for a larger, more in depth follow-up study concentrating solely on the effectiveness of games-based techniques. Clearly, a more in-depth study requires collaboration with more faculty members from various disciplines. To date, we have discussed the possibility of deploying game-based techniques with instructors in the Public Health, Math, and Engineering faculties
- Connections with people from different departments, faculties, and/or disciplines about teaching and learning: The interdisciplinary nature of this project has created new and solidified existing connections between the School of Planning and Computer Science. Furthermore, as Hadi Hosseini and Maxwell Hartt have since graduated and moved on to other institutions, the network of this project has continued to grow.
References
Project reference list (PDF)