Spumone

Spumone is a video game framework designed for learning college level engineering. The goal is to make some of the hard work in learning fundamental engineering science concepts and problem solving techniques much more engaging and effective than traditional textbook homework problems. Spumone is being developed and tested at Northern Illinois University.

Coller, Brianno. (2012, December 27). Spumone – learning engineering with a video game [video post]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SFRxm8K7Wc

Learning Engagement Principles

1. Cultural Engagement

“Schools may take active steps to make students from diverse cultural backgrounds—“To me, cultural engagement is not just based upon ethnicities and nationalities. People in general, and/or students can too often be grouped by a certain distinction and adapt a specific cultural background for themselves. An example of this would be the students participating in the Spumone study. This learning game is designed for engineers specifically. Lessons for this game will more than likely be of no interest to the student who’s desire is to become a writer. Therefore, they will be planned, arranged, and created for that particular learner using items that will be influenced by “their culture.”

2. Physical Engagement

Spumone is a video game-based learning method. Another game that can come into play when it comes to video games and physical engagement, is the Wii gaming system. “Teachers may use physical activities or routines to stimulate learning or interest.” This was done in the following video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CUyVo1nIss) where the teacher used active games such as bowling and darts to teach math to elementary school students. “…the theory is that students are more likely to remember information when they are using multiple parts of the brain at the same time. So there are multiple benefits to be derived from video-game based learning. It is even possible to implement a physically engaging element to Spumone as they continue to develop this product.

3. Intellectual Engagement

Because engineering students are analytical it is important to “create lessons, assignments, or projects that appeal to student interests or that stimulate their curiosity.” With Spumone, the student does not only play the game to make it work, but, they have to figure out how to make it work, to make it work; something that engineers seemingly enjoy. They have to use their reason and understanding to have successful play. Using the game-based strategy with this type of engagement as opposed to the text book or lecture method has the potential to keep the learner engaged longer and perhaps offers preventative methods for distraction.

Reference

YouTube. (2020). Retrieved 12 July 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CUyVo1nIss

Game-Based Learning

According to Ottenbreit-Leftwich and Brush (2018), what possible impact upon engineering students can Spumone have on learning engagement? Identify and discuss (in your own words) three to five learning engagement principles based upon their writings. Each principle identified should consist of a 150–250 word explanation, as a comment to this blog. Remember to use proper APA-style formatting for in-text citations and references in your writing.