SBIR Phase I: Student Gaming and Algorithms

该SBIR第一阶段项目将专注于开发和展示第一个多玩家教育游戏平台的可行性，在该平台上，游戏中的经验直接转化为技能贸易中的真实的技能。该平台将是一个多人游戏的体验，游戏玩家在真实的世界中合作完成建筑项目和设计和工程工作。这种培养下一代建筑专业人员的方法为培养下一代建筑经理、估算师、承包商、现场监督员和工匠提供了一种有效的方法。由于建筑行业继续跟踪与采用技术相关的其他行业，因此强调了这种将STEM学习与模拟建筑项目联系起来的教育技术的及时性。这项技术还将解决教育的挑战，特别是在技术行业，更容易获得社会经济不同的人口，以及其他学生无法进入传统的大学获得这些技能。该SBIR第一阶段项目将专注于开发和演示Design Builder Pro Simulator应用程序的高风险组件的可行性。一般来说，第一阶段将需要课程开发和开发用户界面，游戏和设计布局的原型。原型软件将与智能算法集成，以根据学生的表现调整游戏难度。具体而言，该项目包括以下三个目标：1。设计和构建成功通过验证测试的alpha技术。成功的衡量标准包括alpha原型软件界面和游戏子组件的开发，并成功通过所有技术验证。2.开发智能算法来自适应调整游戏参数。成功的衡量标准包括开发的算法根据受试者的表现准确地调整游戏难度。3.完成可用性研究以验证学生体验和核心课程。成功的衡量标准包括提高学生对建筑的知识和兴趣，从用户验证显著积极的定量和定性指标。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This SBIR Phase I project will focus on developing and demonstrating feasibility of a first multi-player educational gaming platform where the experience in the game directly translates to real world skills in skilled trade. The platform will be a multiplayer experience in which gamers collaborate to complete construction projects and design and engineering efforts in the real world. This approach to training the next generation of construction professionals provides an efficient approach to train the next generations of construction managers, estimators, contractors, field superintendents and tradesmen. Since the construction industry continues to trail others related to the adoption of technology, the timeliness of this educational technology that links STEM learning within a simulated construction project is underscored. This technology will also address the challenge of making education, especially in the skilled trades, more accessible to socioeconomic disparate populations, and to other students not able to attend traditional universities to acquire these skills. This SBIR Phase I project will focus on developing and demonstrating feasibility of the high-risk components of the Design Builder Pro Simulator application. In general, the Phase I will require curriculum development and developing a prototype of the user interface, gaming and design layout. The prototype software will be integrated with intelligent algorithms to adjust gaming difficulty based on student performance. More specifically, the project includes the following 3 objectives: 1. Design and build alpha technology that successfully passes verification testing. Success metrics include the alpha prototype software interface and gaming subcomponents is developed and successfully passes all technical verification. 2. Develop intelligent algorithms to adaptively adjust game parameters. Success metrics include the developed algorithms accurately adjust game difficulty based on subject performance. 3. Complete a usability study to validate the student experience and core curriculum. Success metrics include Improved student knowledge about and interest in construction, significant positive quantitative and qualitative metrics from user validation.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.