Designing an adaptive learner model for a mathematics game

MEES, Martyn, JAY, Tim and HABGOOD, Jacob (2018). Designing an adaptive learner model for a mathematics game. In: CIUSSI, Melanie, (ed.) Proceedings of the 12th European conference on games based learning. Academic Conferences and Publishing International Limited, 800-807.

Preview

PDF Mees-DesigningAnAdaptive(AM).pdf - Accepted Version All rights reserved. Download (479kB) | Preview

Abstract

The RAIDING Project (Researching Adaptivity for Individual Differences in Number Games) aims to develop a game for 7-8 year olds, to develop their times tables and number bond skills. One of the design principles of the project is to implement a level of adaptivity into the game, so that the difficulty of the mathematical content adapts to the player's current level of arithmetic fluency. A learner model has been developed to enable the game to use previous gameplay performance to calculate the player's current level of arithmetic fluency, and thereby provide new tasks at an appropriate level of difficulty. A second design principle is to decouple the mathematical difficulty from gameplay rewards, so that progress in the game is achieved through time and effort rather that solely as a result of mathematical achievement. We predict that these two design principles will produce games that are motivating and help players to experience flow. This paper describes and discusses our adaptive implementation, and our approach to decoupling of mathematical learning from rewards. We evaluate the success of the game to date and consider scope for potential development and improvement. We also show how the analytical data produced by the learner model has been used to identify unhelpful in-game behaviours and adapt the game design. A future goal of the project is to explore whether the adaptivity of the learner model can be expanded to include gameplay ability (including elements hand-eye coordination and response times) and allow for separate dynamic adjustment of (non-mathematical) difficulty. We are particularly interested in investigating the affordances of such a "two-axis" flow in the game.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	ISSN (2049-0992) 12th European conference on games based learning, 4-5 October 2018, SKEMA business school, Sophia Antipolis, France.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	game-based learning; adaptive difficulty; intrinsic motivation; arithmetic; flow
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Sheffield Institute of Education
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities > Department of Education, Childhood and Inclusion
Page Range:	800-807
Depositing User:	Jacob Habgood
Date Deposited:	18 Oct 2018 15:07
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 01:16
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/22449

Actions (login required)

View Item

Downloads

Publication Metrics