Board 197: A Gamified Approach for Active Exploration to Discover Systematic Solutions for Fundamental Engineering Problems

Abstract

This study explores students' ability to discover systematic solutions for fundamental engineering problems contextualized in domain-specific settings through active exploration in a digital game environment. To address this objective, through a research project funded by the NSF Division of Engineering Education and Centers (EEC), we designed and developed a scenario-based interactive digital game, called Zebel, to guide students in solving fundamental problems in construction scheduling. The proposed gamified pedagogical approach was designed based on the Constructivism learning theory. We also designed a series of pre- and post-assessment instruments for empirical data collection to assess the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The proposed gamified method was implemented in a graduate-level construction planning and scheduling course. The outcomes indicated that students with no prior knowledge of construction scheduling methods were able to discover systematic solutions for fundamental scheduling problems through their experience with the proposed gamified learning method.