Rule-based Automatic Adaptation of Collaborative Multiplayer Serious Games - Supporting Instructors in Game-based Learning Scenarios
Key: WAGS13-2
Author: Viktor Wendel, Sebastian Ahlfeld, Stefan Göbel, Ralf Steinmetz
Date: May 2013
Kind: In proceedings
Publisher: SciTePress
Book title: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Computer-supported Education
Keywords: Serious Games, Collaborative Learning, CSCL, Game Mastering, Adaptation
Abstract: Computer-supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is a learning concept which is being used in schools and institutes of higher education for many years. In recent years, the concept of Serious Games offers new approaches for game-based learning. Combining the concept of multiplayer Serious Games with methods of CSCL to collaborative multiplayer Serious Games enables instructors to use game-based CSCL applications with a whole new way of control over the learning process and new ways of assessment. The cognitive load on an instructor during such a game, however, is quite high as the teacher needs to observe the gaming/learning process of a group of players/learners, monitoring and analyzing their behavior while moderating the learning process and coaching the learners. We therefore proposed a framework for supporting instructors with their tasks in collaborative multiplayer Serious Games using a generic description of such games defining necessary information about players and their interactions. The framework also defines possible ways of adaptation for the instructor. In this paper, we propose an extension of our framework which enables the instructor to automatize some of his/her tasks in order to reduce the cognitive load during monitoring and moderating the game-based CSCL process. We therefore designed a rule-based adaptation mechanism which is based on virtual agents. Using our framework, the instructor is now able to automatize some of his/her tasks before or during the game based on game facts and player behavior and learner progress.

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