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Development of Computer Game Based Instruction: The Periodic Table Game

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Brenda O'Neal ,
Leigh McKenzie ,
Garry W. Warren ,
Earnest Nancy ,
Timothy Bryant  and
Martin G. Bakker
Brenda O'Neal
Affiliation:
onealb@ecs.k12.al.us, The University of Alabama, Center for Materials for Information Technology, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
Leigh McKenzie
Affiliation:
mckenziel@ecs.k12.al.us, The University of Alabama, Center for Materials for Information Technology, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
Garry W. Warren
Affiliation:
gwarren@coe.eng.ua.edu, The University of Alabama, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
Earnest Nancy
Affiliation:
nancy_earnest@is.ua.edu, The University of Alabama, Center for Communication and Educational Technology, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
Timothy Bryant
Affiliation:
tbryant@ccet.ua.edu, The University of Alabama, Center for Communication and Educational Technology, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
Martin G. Bakker
Affiliation:
bakker@bama.ua.edu, The University of Alabama, Department of Chemistry, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, United States
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Abstract

A collaboration between The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) and the Integrated Science (IS) program run by the Center for Communication and Educational Technology (CCET) at The University of Alabama has been developing a computer game based approach to teaching Periodic Table concepts and facts to middle school students. The game is broken into seven different sections. There are three information centers, which are each paired with a game, and there is a “Dream Room” which provides an incentive for students to master the subject matter of the game. The three information centers focus on learning the elements, their positions in the periodic table, and trends in physical and chemical properties. The games then test the students' knowledge of the concepts and facts in the information centers. The game is currently in a late beta version and can be accessed over the web at http://www.mint.ua.edu/periodictable.

Preliminary results from a large evaluation exercise shows that classes that use the computer games improved significantly more on tests of subject matter than a control group.

Keywords

memorynanoscalememory
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 931: Symposium KK – Education in Nanoscience and Engineering , 2006 , 0931-KK02-03
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2006

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References

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