Teaching Dynamic Systems and Control with a Video Game to Mechanical Engineering Undergraduates

工程-机械(56)这个CCLI第一阶段探索性项目正在利用视频游戏的巨大人气，特别是它们的力量来吸引和激励人们(特别是年轻人)参与通常是漫长、困难和需要高水平批判性思维技能的活动。该项目正试图通过开发一款视频游戏来利用这种深度参与，该游戏用于教授机械工程课程中最难和最抽象的课程之一：动态系统与控制。项目工作人员正在开发一款游戏，它不仅具有动感十足的商业视频游戏的外观，而且还具有复杂的汽车工程模拟。学生们正在设计反馈控制策略来驾驶汽车，而不是使用方向盘或其他游戏控制器设备。项目工作人员正在进行研究，以确定以游戏为基础的课堂教学是否改善了学生的学习，以及视频游戏是否提高了学生的参与度。后者将在流动理论的框架内使用一种被称为经验抽样法的调查技术进行测试。研究结果将在会议上公布，并在学术期刊上发表。该软件的设计是便携、廉价和易于使用的。

Engineering - Mechanical (56)This CCLI Phase 1, Exploratory Project is using the enormous popularity of video games, specifically their power to captivate and motivate people (particularly young people) to engage in activities that are often long, difficult, and that require high-level critical thinking skills. The project is attempting to harness this deep level of engagement by developing a video game for teaching one of the most difficult and abstract courses in the mechanical engineering curriculum: Dynamic Systems & Control. Project staff are developing a game that has the look and feel of an action-packed commercial video game, but also features a sophisticated engineering simulation of an automobile. Students are devising feedback control strategies to drive the car, rather than using a steering wheel or other game controller devices. Project staff are conducting research to determine whether the game-based class instruction improves student learning, and whether student engagement is enhanced by the video game. The latter will be tested within the framework of flow theory using a survey technique known as the Experience Sampling Method. Results are being presented at conferences and published in scholarly journals. The software is being designed to be portable, inexpensive and easy to use.