| Sponsors |
Prof. Amy Bruckman asb@cc.gatech.edu CCB 255 Jason Elliott jlelliot@cc.gatech.edu CCB 270 or CCB 226-D |
| Area | Learning Sciences and Technology (LST) |
Problem
In AquaMOOSE 3D, high-school students learn mathematics and
computer programming by taking part in a graphical, multi-user,
virtual world. AquaMOOSE 3D is designed according to an
educational philosophy called constructionism, which advocates
learning by working on personally meaningful projects. Our
primary research question is to explore how a 3D graphical
world can support mathematics learning in a constructionist
environment. One way that we are addressing that question is
by allowing students to create game spaces that involve using
mathematical equations. We have provided a sample game space,
called the Ring Game.
In the Ring Game, students create ring tracks. Ring tracks consist of several rings that are positioned in the 3D space according to a set of mathematical equations. The goal of the Ring Game is for other students to attempt to move their avatar through the ring track by guessing the appropriate mathematical equations. Students can use a wide variety of math functions to create their ring tracks, including trigonometric functions like sine and cosine. Here are some screenshots of the Ring Game and some other math moves in AquaMOOSE:
This mini-project focuses on two problems we have observed with the Ring Game. First, it is very simple for students to create extremely complex ring tracks, which no other student will ever be able to solve. We need to help the students understand that creating a successful ring track does not mean creating one that nobody will ever solve. A successful set of ring tracks should lead students through progressively more complicated equations until an interesting and complex mathematical representation is achieved. Second, when a student tries to complete someone else's ring track, there is no way for them to get feedback on how they should change their equations to solve the track. It would be useful if the creator of a ring track could specify hints that would help others understand and solve the track.
Currently, we have an incomplete hint system that has been implemented by a summer intern. This hint system consists of a dialog window that can be accessed when creating a ring track, and another dialog window that is available when attempting to solve a ring track. These dialogs allow the creator of a ring track to specify hints that can be viewed by anyone who is attempting to solve the track. We would like to have the design of the hint system completed. The first part of this mini-project is to complete the design of the hint system. You may continue the current design, redesign the dialogs, or design an entirely new hint system. Some issues to consider when designing your hint system might be:
The second part of this mini-project is to design a new feature for AquaMOOSE that addresses the problems with the Ring Game described above. Your new feature should improve the process by which students create and share ring tracks. An example feature could be a new type of visualization tool that provides more information about a particular axis of the move, as opposed to the standard 3D perspective views. Once you have a new feature in mind, please discuss the details of the feature with myself (jlelliot@cc.gatech.edu) and/or Amy Bruckman (asb@cc.gatech.edu). Based on our feedback, you will alter your design and create a design document to describe your new feature.
What you need to do: