The effect of uncertainty on learning in game-like environments

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Considering the role of games for educational purposes, there has an increase in interest among educators in applying strategies used in popular games to create more engaging learning environments. Learning is more fun and appealing in digital educational games and, as a result, it may become more effective. However, few research studies have been conducted to establish principles based on empirical research for designing engaging and entertaining games so as to improve learning. One of the essential characteristics of games that has been unexplored in the literature is the concept of uncertainty. This study examines the effect of uncertainty on learning outcomes. In order to better understand this effect on learning, a game-like learning tool was developed to teach a database concept in higher education programs of software engineering. The tool is designed in two versions: one including uncertainty and the other including no uncertainty. The experimental results of this study reveal that uncertainty enhances learning. Uncertainty is found to be positively associated with motivation. As motivation increases, participants tend to spend more time on answering the questions and to have higher accuracy in these questions

The effect of competition on learning in games

Today serious games are having an important impact on areas other than entertainment. Studies show that serious games have a potential of creating learning environments to better reach the educational and training goals. The game design characteristics and game elements are need to be explored in detail for increasing the expected benefits of the gaming environments. In this study, the effect of competition, one of the design elements of game environments, on learning is analyzed experimentally. The study is conducted with 142 students. The results of this study show that when a competition environment is created in a serious game, motivation and post-test scores of learners improve significantly. The results of this study are expected to guide the serious game designers for improving the potential benefits of serious games. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

How to teach usage of equipments in a remote laboratory

European Remote Radio Laboratory (ERRL) is an e-learning project for students, teachers and technicians of the universities who will use the very important devices of this laboratory remotely. These devices are very expensive to buy and can be broken easily while they have been using by the people who does not really know how to use them professionally. As a solution we have developed an e-learning system which aims to support the ERRL learners while studying on how to use equipments in the system. The system is developed according to the electronic performance support systems (EPSS) approach. An EPSS is a computer-based, well-structured system which improves the performance of individuals. It is an electronic infrastructure that contains, stores and distributes personal (individual) or corporate knowledge to enable people to reach necessary levels of performance in the fastest possible time and with minimum teaching support of other people. This paper discusses how the content for such a system is developed and how this content is interactively used in the EPSS platform. The technical details of the developed EPSS are also discussed in this study. We believe that this paper will help instructional system designers for designing different alternatives to improve learners' performance. © 2007 IEEE

Teaching usage of equipments in a remote laboratory

Remote laboratories are technologies that aim to increase the effectiveness of educational programs. European Remote Radio Laboratory (ERRL) is an e-learning project for students, teachers and technicians who will use very important devices of a radio frequency laboratory remotely. As a solution we have developed an e-learning system which aims to support the ERRL learners while studying on how to use equipments in the system. The system is developed according to the electronic performance support system (EPSS) approach. An EPSS is a computer-based, well-structured system which improves the performance of individuals. It is an electronic infrastructure that contains, stores and distributes personal (individual) or corporate knowledge to enable people to reach necessary levels of performance in the fastest possible time and with minimum teaching support of other people. This paper discusses how the content for such a system is developed and how this content is interactively used in the EPSS platform. The technical details of the developed EPSS are also discussed in this study. We believe that this paper will help instructional system designers for designing different alternatives to improve learners' performance

Science competitions using technology: a study of the behavior of the participating schools in the CNC in Portugal

Neste trabalho investiga-se a dinâmica de escolas do 3º ciclo do Ensino Básico em Portugal, na preparação e participação em uma competição desenvolvida em ambiente computacional sobre conteúdos curriculares de Matemática, Português, Físico-Química e Geologia. Foi realizada uma análise fatorial exploratória de dados empíricos relativos às 143 escolas participantes nas competições realizadas em 2015, analisando-se as suas caraterísticas de atuação. Foram identificados quatro fatores latentes descrevendo o comportamento das escolas: Treino quantitativo, Treino qualitativo, Prestação e Utilizadores, constatando-se que: (i) a participação na competição de Matemática é predominante; (ii) escolas participantes em duas ou três competições apresentam diferentes dinâmicas de preparação; (iii) escolas que participam apenas em Matemática e Físico-Química parecem adotar estratégias pedagógicas mais articuladas e eficientes. Reconhece-se que, embora as escolas participantes desenvolvam trabalhos de preparação, existe uma tendência para as escolas apresentarem estratégias distintas de atuação consoante a combinação de grupos disciplinares presentes nas competições oficiais.In this work we investigate the dynamics of 143 schools of the 3rd cycle of Basic Education in Portugal, regarding the preparation and participation in online science competitions on curricular contents of Mathematics, Portuguese, Physics and Chemistry and Geology. An exploratory factorial analysis of empirical data concerning the competitions in 2015 was carried out, to analyze the characteristics inherent to schools’ performance. Four latent factors describing the schools’ behavior were identified: Quantitative Training, Qualitative Training, Proficiency and Users, which allowed us to verify that: (i) participation in mathematics competition is predominant; (ii) schools participating in two or three competitions present different preparation dynamics; (iii) schools involved only in Mathematics and Physics and Chemistry competitions seem to adopt a more articulated and efficient pedagogical strategy. Although all schools develop a preparatory work before competitions, the strategies used seem to be related to the combination of distinct disciplinary groups participating in the competitions.Trabalho subsidiado por fundos portugueses através do Centro de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Matemática e Aplicações (CIDMA) da Universidade de Aveiro, e da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), dentro do projeto UID/MAT/04106/2013.publishe

Growth performance of juvenile Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzenburg, 1833) at two stocking densities in net cages

The growth performance of juvenile sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzenburg, 1833) was studied in experimental net cages (2 m x 2 m x 2 m) in freshwater Sapanca Lake. Fertilized eggs were imported from Krasnodar, Russia in January 2001. Two experimental stocking densities were employed (12 and 8 ind. m(-3)). Sturgeon were hand-fed a pelleted commercial trout feed twice daily throughout the 203-day experiment period. Fish were grown at ambient temperature (12.7-28.5degreesC) and natural photoperiod. Initial and final mean body weights were 279.5 g (+/-31.27) and 1112.8 g (+/-234.77) in the first group, and 271.1 g (+/-28.21) and 1140.5 g (+/-213.31) in the second group, respectively. Results were a fourfold biomass density increase in both trials from an initial 3.48 to 12.4 kg m(-3) (high density) and 2.2 to 8.8 kg m(-3) (low density). Mean specific growth rate (SGR) was determined as 2.69% day(-1) in both groups. Mean condition factor (CF) at the end of the experiment was 0.36 +/- 0.05 in the high-density group and 0.41 +/- 0.05 in the low-density group. Mean feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated to be 5.7 and 5.8, respectively. Survival was 92.7% in the first group (high density) and 96.1% in the second group (low density). The results demonstrated that sturgeon juveniles can be raised in cages and that growth performance (CF, SGR and FCR) and mortality of sturgeon were not significantly different at the two stocking densities (P > 0.05) tested

The Protective Effect of Losartan on Diabetic Neuropathy in a Diabetic Rat Model

WOS: 000361828600008PubMed ID: 26011170Aim: Involvement of the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems is possibly the most frequent complication of diabetes. Important risk factors included hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and smoking. Angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACE) inhibitors should be beneficial in all vascular beds, including neuropathy and retinopathy. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan on diabetic neuropathy in a diabetic rat model. Material and Methods: 24 male, Sprague Dawley albino mature rats were divided into 3 groups; (1) control group: No drug was administered to the remainder of rats which blood glucose levels were under 120mg/dl, (2) diabetic control: rats were given no medication, but 4ml per day of tap water was given by oral gavage, (3) losartan groups: rats were given 10mg/kg/day oral of losartan for 4 weeks. Electromyography (EMG) was applied to anesthetized rats at the end of 4(th) weekend. Then, the animals were euthanized and sciatic nerve was performed for histopathological examination. Results: Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) amplitude of diabetic rats receiving the Saline in the EMG was significantly reduced when compared to the control group. Distal latency value and CMAP duration of diabetic rats receiving the saline were meaningfully increased when compared to the control group. CMAP amplitude and CMAP duration of diabetic rats receiving the Losartan treatment in the EMG were meaningfully reduced when compared to diabetic rats receiving the Saline. Perineural thickness in the rats receiving the Losartan treatment was found to be significantly reduced when compared to the group receiving the Saline. Conclusions: As a result, it has been shown in this study that perineural thickness of the Losartan treatment was significantly reduced when compared to saline receiving group, significantly increased the immunoexpression of NGF, and also provided a significantly recovery in EMG when compared to Saline receiving group