Conference Proceeding

Solaris One – A Serious Game for Thermodyanmics

Shetty, Sachin, Franzwa, Christopher Joseph, Jahan, Kauser, Tang, Ying

2014

Overview

Solaris One – A Seriuos Game for ThermodyanmicsABSTRACTStagnating growth in our educational systems has piqued interests in alternative teachingmethods such as the inclusion of “serious games” into curricula. In response to those needs, aseries of educational games have been developed in accordance with pre-engineeringprograms such as Project Lead the Way (PLTW). The focus of development is in creating anengaging, educational environment by balancing fun and learning whilst meeting the standardsof commercial-level games and engineering and science curricula.In this paper, we present design and pedagogical methods, and the implementation of thosemethods, in a thermodynamics serious game, Solaris One that accommodates the integrationof game mechanics with learning. The instructional goal of this narrative game is todemonstrate the basic laws of thermodynamics and their applications in the real world.Instead of relying on dry representations of those topics to be just another lab, Solaris Onetakes a sci-fi approach where students take the task, as a power engineer, to go on adangerous expedition into space and to fix issues with a next-generation solar power plant.The space station, orbiting the earth, is attached to a rogue asteroid covered in solar panels.Due to a recent intense solar storm, the parabolic dish that gathers solar energy andtransforms it back to the earth becomes malfunctioning. In fact, the fuses have blown in thefuse box of the dish.The design focuses of the game are on narrative-learning synthesis, supplementing theplayer’s actions with feedback, and the development of a sufficient guidance system withoutcompromising the entertainment or education aspects of a game. The pedagogical focuses areon rich metacognitive strategies embedded in the game that further promote students improvedproblem-solving skills.The student learning outcomes of the game project include:  Enhanced understanding of thermodynamics laws  Strengthened problem-solving skills  Increased knowledge and skills of using games, simulation, modeling and collaborative learning tools

• Publisher: American Society for Engineering Education-ASEE
• Subject: Alternative approaches / Cognitive strategies / Collaborative learning / Computer simulation / Cooperative learning / Curricula / Curriculum development / Education / Educational systems / Engineering education / Entertainment / Feedback / Fuses / Game theory / Games / Gamification / Learning / Learning outcomes / Metacognition / Narratives / Pedagogy / Power / Power plants / Problem solving / Science fiction & fantasy / Simulation / Skills / Solar energy / Solar storms / Space stations / Students / Teaching / Thermodynamics