Developing Web Games to Teach Microbiology

Abstract

As a compliment to the e-Bug teaching pack, two e-Bug games were developed to provide pupil targeted content that aims to entertain as well as to educate. A set of agreed Learning Outcomes (LOs) were provided by the scientific partners on the e-Bug Project and the Games were developed using user-centred design techniques. The e-Bug Games were categorized according to age group: Junior (9-12 year olds) and Senior (13-15 year olds). A focus group-based study was performed to gain an understanding as to the types of games enjoyed by the target audiences. According to the preliminary study, the Junior Game was developed as a platform game, and the Senior Game was developed as a story-based detective game. The Junior Game consists of five levels, each associated with set of LOs. Similarly, the Senior Game consists of four missions each comprised of five stages of Problem Based Learning and LOs. In this paper, the process of development for each game is described in detail as well as an illustration of how each game level/mission addresses the target LOs. Development of the games utilised feedback acquired from students in four schools across the UK (Glasgow, London, Gloucester) – a convenience sample was utilised – as well as Partners of the e-Bug Project who provided further support, translation, and modification requests. Knowledge gain of LOs and further evaluation of the Games is ongoing with preliminary results are in-press. The final versions of the games, translated into 11 European languages, are available online via www.e-bug.eu.