STTR Phase I: Serious Game for Energy Science

这个名为《能源科学的严肃游戏》(Serious Game for Energy Science，简称SGEs)的STTR第一阶段项目旨在解决这样一个问题：在人工智能和教师控制下，科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的严肃游戏能否吸引学习者，影响学生解决问题的能力，提高学生对STEM相关活动/领域的兴趣，并对学生在科学、数学和阅读理解方面的学习结果产生积极影响？教育机构看到，对影响学习结果和促进STEM兴趣的技术的需求不断增加。随着游戏被更广泛地接受，人们对严肃游戏的需求也越来越大--这些游戏是专门为促进学习而设计的。这项研究创新将在STEM严肃游戏开发中开发两个组件：(1)人工智能，(2)教师教学管理工具。SGE将完成这一创新，并在严肃的游戏开发中贡献和推动知识体系。SGE的研究目标是确定能源科学中一场严肃的游戏对学生的影响：参与度、解决问题的能力、对STEM相关活动和领域的兴趣，以及在科学、数学和阅读理解方面的学习结果。学生将通过沉浸在有趣的角色和引人入胜的故事对象的互动世界中，受到启发，学习能源科学、能源生产和环境影响。能源科学严重游戏(SGEs)的更广泛/商业影响是一个可扩展的模型，可适应不同年级、级别和内容领域的学习目标。这项研究将在严肃的游戏中建立人工智能和教师控制的模型，并通过游戏支持教学科学、数学和阅读理解。这将影响任何科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)主题中严肃游戏的商业化。随着严肃游戏在学习中的使用越来越多，该项目以研究为基础的模式的发展将增加美国在严肃游戏市场领域的经济竞争力。像SGE这样的创新严肃游戏可以潜在地增加对STEM相关技能/职业的知识/兴趣，以满足国家对STEM毕业生在劳动力中的需求。SGE将通过学生探索能源科学、能源生产和环境影响，利用解决问题、批判性思维、沟通和协作技能，提高数学、科学、环境素养和阅读理解能力。该项目的研究结果将影响进入STEM相关职业或通过游戏参与STEM学位毕业的学生数量。SGEs项目旨在改善所有年级的STEM教育，并通过向教育工作者提供在课堂上有效使用技术来促进教育者的发展。

This STTR Phase I project, Serious Game for Energy Science (SGES), proposes to address the question 'Can a serious game in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), with artificial intelligence and teacher controls, engage the learner, impact student problem-solving abilities, increase interest in STEM-related activities/fields, and positively impact student learning outcomes in science, math, and reading comprehension?' Educational institutions have seen increased demand for technologies impacting learning outcomes and promoting STEM interest. As gaming becomes more broadly accepted, there is greater demand for Serious Games - games built specifically to enhance learning. This research innovation will develop two components to be modeled in STEM serious game development: (1) artificial intelligence, and (2) instructional management tool for teachers. SGES will accomplish this innovation as well as contribute to, and advance, the body of knowledge in Serious Game development. SGES research objectives are to determine the effects of a serious game in Energy Science on students: engagement, problem-solving abilities, interest in STEM-related activities and fields, and learning outcomes in science, math, and reading comprehension. Students will be inspired to learn about energy science, energy production, and environmental impacts by being immersed in an interactive world with interesting characters and engaging story objectives.The broader/commercial impact of Serious Game for Energy Science (SGES) is an expandable model adaptable to learning objectives across grades levels and content areas. This research will establish models for artificial intelligence and teacher controls in serious games, and support teaching science, math, and reading comprehension with gaming. This will impact the commercialization of serious games in any science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) topic. With the increase use of serious games in learning, development of this projects' research-based model will increase the economic competitiveness of the United States in the serious games market sector. Innovative serious games like SGES can potentially increase knowledge/interest in STEM related skills/careers addressing national needs for STEM graduates in the workforce. SGES will enhance math, science, environmental literacy, and reading comprehension through student exploration of energy science, energy production, and environmental impact using problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration skills. The project research results will impact the number of students entering STEM related careers or graduating with STEM degrees by engaging them through game play. The SGES project aims to improve STEM education for all grade levels and improve educator development by providing educators with an effective use of technology in the classroom.