A Software Platform for Educational Board Games

Educational games such as quizzes, quests, puzzles, mazes and logical problems may be modeled as multimedia board games. In the scope of the ADOPTA project1 being under development at the Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics at Sofia University, a formal model for presentation of such educational board games was invented and elaborated. Educational games can be modeled as special board mini-games, with a board of any form and any types of positions. Over defined positions, figures (objects) with certain properties are placed and, next, there are to be defined formal rules for manipulation of these figures and resulted effects. The model has been found to be general enough in order to allow description and execution control of more complex logical problems to be solved by several actions delivered to/by the player according some formal rules and context conditions and, in general, of any learning activities and their workflow. It is used as a base for creation of a software platform providing facilities for easy construction of multimedia board games and their execution. The platform consists of game designer (i.e., a game authoring tool) and game run-time controller communicating each other through game repository. There are created and modeled many examples of educational board games appropriate for didactic purposes, self evaluations, etc., which are supposed to be designed easily by authors with no IT skills and experience. By means of game metadata descriptions, these games are going be included into narrative storyboards and, next, delivered to learners with appropriate profile according their learning style, preferences, etc. Moreover, usage of artificial intelligence agents is planned as well – once as playing virtual opponents of the player or, otherwise, being virtual advisers of the gamer helping him/her in finding the right problem solution within given domain such as discovering a treasure using a location map, finding best tour in a virtual museum, guessing an unknown word in a hangman game, and many others.

Almirante: Evaluating the board game: Board game, startup, discounted cash flow, venture capital method, real options

This thesis evaluates a start-up company (Jogos Almirante Lda) whose single asset is a board game named Almirante. It aims to conclude whether it makes sense to create a company or just earn copyrights. The thesis analyzes the board game’s market, as part of the general toy’s market, from which some data exists: European countries as well as the USA. In this work it is analyzed the several ways to finance a start-up company and then present an overview of the valuation of the Jogos Almirante based on three different methods: Discounted Cash Flow, Venture Capital Method and Real Options.

The use of software Mapavox for teaching graphics and games to blind and low vision students: a development through practices

Current policies on education to visually impaired point for a growing trend of including students with special educational needs in regular schools. However, most often this inclusion is not accompanied by an appropriate professional trained or infrastructure, which has been presented as a big problem for regular school teachers who have students with visual impairments in their classroom. Based on this situation, the Group of Extension in Tactile Cartography from UNESP - University of the State of São Paulo - Campus de Rio Claro - SP - Brazil has been developing educational material of geography and cartography to blind students at a special school. Among the materials developed in this study highlight the development of graphics and board games provided with sound capabilities through MAPAVOX, software developed in partnership with UFRJ - Federal University from Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil. Through this software, sound capabilities can be inserted into built materials, giving them a multi-sensory character. In most cases the necessary conditions for building specific materials to students with visual impairments is expensive and beyond the reach of features from a regular school, so the survey sought to use easy access and low cost materials like Cork, leaf aluminum, material for fixing and others. The development of these materials was supported by preparation in laboratory and its subsequent test through practices involving blind students. The methodology used on the survey is based on qualitative research and non comparative analysis of the results. In other words, the material is built based on the special students perception and reality construction, not being mere adaptations of visual materials, but a construction focused on the reality of the visually impaired. The results proved were quite successful as the materials prepared were effective on mediating the learning process of students with disabilities. Geographical and cartographic concepts were seized by the students through the technology used, associated with the use of materials that took into account in its building process the perception of the students.

Theory games

This paper examines the remarkable and unexplored correspondence between games (and board games in particular) and what is commonly understood as theory in the social sciences. It argues that games exhibit many if not most of the attributes of theory, but that theory is missing some of the features of games. As such, game provide a way of rethinking what we mean by theory and theorizing. Specifically, games and their relationship with the ‘real’ world, provide a way of thinking about theory and theorizing that is consistent with recent calls to frame social inquiry around the concept of phrónēsis.

Intervenció psicopedagògica a Primària per millorar l'aprenentatge del càlcul mental a Cicle Mitjà

Es tracta d'un programa d'assessorament i intervenció psicopedagògica en una escola per a treballar el càlcul mental a primària, concretament al cicle mitjà, però també extensible a altres cicles, a partir de l'adaptació de diferents jocs de taula mitjançant la creació de tallers de matemàtiques i amb una pràctica basada en el constructivisme.

Game-based Learning (Interactive Demo)

What does the lesson “Finding Citations,” the game “Trivial Pursuit,” and the mechanic “Bluffing” all have in common? In this bootcamp brainstorm facilitated by a CUNY professor, attendees are broken up into design teams whose job it is to enhance a traditional lesson with the mechanics of popular board games in only 20 minutes. Whether you have to teach the rules of citation or the rules of interviewing, there is usually a game plan that can help. This game teaches you how to integrate educational games into your classroom, while providing a fun introduction to the principles of game-based learning.

Terapia ocupacional em ação interdisciplinar: jogos educativo-nutricionais na prevenção da obesidade infantil

The inter-subjectivity is the answer in the search for the solution of complex problems, which concerns interfaces of knowledge, respecting their borders. This paradigm is essential in the author's work. So, the search on screen is based on this perspective, by using inter-subject groups of work conduced by professionals of Computer Science, Social Communication, Architecture and Urbanism, Pedagogy, Psicopegagogy, Nutritional Science, Endocrinology, Occupational Therapy and Nursing, it was also part of this group an 8 year old child, daughter of one of the professional who took part of the group. This thesis aims to present the course of investigation developed, analyzing the action of inter-subject Occupational Therapy and Nutrition on the promotion of learning nutritional concepts through educative-nutritional games in order to prevent child's obesity in an educative context. The research was analytic, interventionist and almost experimental. It took place in a public school in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, between August and December 2004. It was selected a sample non-probabilistic, by convenience, of 200 children, born from 1994 to 1996. It was selected almost nonprobabilistically, by convenience, 200 children born between 1994 and 1996. To analyze the results it was used a triangulation, associated by quantitative and qualitative approaches. The basis collect happened through games specially manufactured to these research- video-games, board games, memory games, puzzles, scramble, searching words and iterative basics. There were semi-structured interviews, direct and structured observations and focus in-groups. It was noticed the efficiency of educativenutritional games in the learning process, which lead to a changing of attitude towards the eating choices. These games gave similar results in relation to the compared variations preferences, experience and attitudes, theses attitudes were observed through the game; and the categories to compare the possibility of learning by playing, the fantasy in the learning process, learning concepts of nutritional education and the need of help in the learning process (mediation). It was proved that educativenutritional games could be used to teach nutritional concepts, in an inter-subjective action of Occupational Therapy and Nutrition in schools. The simultaneous application of these games lead to the optimization of child s learning process. It should be emphasized the need of studies about the adaptation of tools used in a child s Nutritional Education, with the help of inter-subjective action. Because just one subject, in a fractionated way can give an answer to complex problems and help to a change of the reality with effectiveness and resolution

Uma proposta de ensino para o nível fundamental a partir das concepções sobre insetos

O presente trabalho consiste em uma investigação acerca das concepções de estudantes sobre o que é um inseto. Partiu-se do pressuposto de que os alunos expressam concepções errôneas no momento de identificar os representantes do táxon Insecta e que isso é consequência das experiências do cotidiano e de erros conceituais oriundos da formação escolar incorreta. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram investigar sobre concepções alternativas acerca dos insetos com alunos do ensino fundamental II e propor situações para promoção de uma aprendizagem mais ativa. Os dados para analise foram coletados em três turmas de escolas diferentes: uma escola em Nova Parnamirim, da rede privada, e duas da rede pública municipal de ensino: uma do município de Natal/RN e a outra do município de Parnamirim/RN. Utilizou-se como instrumento um questionário aplicado em duas fases. Na primeira etapa foram feitas três questões abertas e duas fechadas. Na segunda, aplicaram-se mais três questões. Nesta oportunidade foram apresentados aos alunos uma lista com imagens de insetos e animais considerados não insetos. Os resultados dos questionários mostraram que os alunos apresentaram na sua maioria, 62%, sentimentos negativos sobre os insetos, expressos por palavras depreciativas, entre elas: nojentos, feios, asquerosos, perigosos, sendo estes mais da metade dos alunos da amostra. Sentimentos positivos representaram 20%: fazem bem ao homem, Deus criou, são bons, são bonitos, e 18% apresentaram neutralidade nessas categorias. Outro resultado apresentado foi que 82% generalizaram os animais artrópodes como sendo insetos. Como forma de resolver problemas relacionados as concepções uma unidade didática foi aplicada em uma das escolas envolvidas na pesquisa, validando assim um instrumento pedagógico que incluiu atividade lúdica constituída de um jogo de tabuleiro proporcionador de uma vivência de aprendizagem focada em conceitos científicos sobre os insetos fáceis de serem apreendidos

Tecnologia educacional para o ensino do atletismo: o jogo de mesa como um recurso didático-pedagógico

Pós-graduação em Desenvolvimento Humano e Tecnologias - IBRC

Descrição e avaliação das brinquedotecas hospitalares em Belém

A brinquedoteca hospitalar é um direito legalmente assegurado às crianças por meio da Lei 11.104/05, entretanto ainda não concretizado integralmente no país. O presente estudo objetivou descrever e analisar as condições de serviços e espaços disponibilizados pelas brinquedotecas hospitalares em Belém do Pará. Fizeram parte da pesquisa quatro hospitais que possuem este serviço. A pesquisa envolveu 10 técnicos e 39 crianças e seus acompanhantes. Para os técnicos foram utilizados um roteiro de Entrevista; a Escala Autoavaliativa de Índices de Qualidade (EAIQ), sendo do tipo Likert, composta por 27 itens fechados e três abertos. Para as crianças e seus responsáveis foram aplicados roteiros de entrevista. Foram realizados também observações e registro fotográfico. A coleta de dados foi iniciada após a assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido, as entrevistas e a aplicação da EAIQ foram feitas individualmente. Os dados oriundos das entrevistas foram agrupados em categorias a partir dos tópicos presentes nos roteiros e os da escala segundo a literatura, ambos analisados qualitativamente. Dentre os principais resultados encontrados estão: a- Todos os hospitais do estudo eram público; b- no tocante a conceituação do espaço, as resposta dos técnicos e acompanhantes esteve em consonância com a literatura e a legislação vigente; c- existem poucos registros acerca da implantação e funcionamento dos espaços; d- as equipes se diferiram tanto em relação ao número de membros quanto à formação, sendo que em metade delas falta uma rotina sistemática de reuniões, contudo foram avaliadas positivamente pela clientela, e- verificou-se que três delas funcionam no mínimo cinco dias por semana e que todas oferecem atividades livres, dirigidas; f- no tocante ao acervo lúdico, este se diferenciou em relação à quantidade, mas as instituições dispunham de brinquedos de faz-de-conta, blocos de montar e jogos de tabuleiro, g- verificou-se que as crianças apresentaram pouca restrição às brincadeiras que gostariam de realizar no hospital e relataram que o local preferido dentro desse contexto é aquele em que podem brincar. O estudo permitiu traçar um perfil destas brinquedotecas, verificar os aspectos que favorecem a concretização dos objetivos desses espaços e reflexões sobre possibilidades de melhorias.

Riskmática: Una tecnología educativa desarrollada con Unity

Historically, teachers have always searched for a connection with their students to make education interesting and a vital experience. In the 19th century, pedagogue Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi taught children how to sum using wood blocks. His successors have followed his legacy and today they use a wide variety of media, including board games, in order to reach out to their students. These methods are denominated educational technologies, which are defined as the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources. With the advent of the information technologies, teachers have at their disposal new media with which they can increase the interest of their students. This technologic revolution is changing the present educational model. The objective of this dissertation is to develop an educational videogame in order to help students learn mathematics. To reach this goal, the videogame has been developed with the game engine Unity as the main tool. Additionally, agile software development methodologies as well as other software engineering techniques have also been used. The result is Riskmatica, an educational videogame based on geographical domination in which knowledge is the best weapon. The players must conquer enemy teritories answering correctly a mathecatical question. Moreover the videogame has the functionality required to configure a new game and input new questions. To conclude, this project has created an educational technology which greatly appeals to students and that can be used by the educators to improve their lessons in mathematics.---RESUMEN---A lo largo de la historia, los educadores siempre han buscado conectar con los alumnos para poder captar su interés y hacer que la educación se convierta en una experiencia vital. El pedagogo Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi conseguía esto en el siglo XIX, enseñando a niños a contar con bloques de madera. Sus sucesores han seguido su legado y hoy en día utilizan variedad de medios con los que motivar a sus alumnos, en algunos casos los juegos de mesa. Estos métodos son denominados tecnologías educativas, que se definen como los estudios y prácticas éticas que facilitan y mejoran la enseñanza, mediante la creación, el uso y el empleo de procesos y recursos tecnológicos. Con el advenimiento de las tecnologías de la información, los educadores tienen a su disposición un nuevo medio con el que llegar al alumnado. Esta revolución tecnológica está cambiando el modelo educativo actual. El objetivo de este proyecto es el de crear un videojuego educativo que ayude a los alumnos a estudiar matemáticas. Para lograrlo se ha utilizado el popular motor de videojuego Unity como herramienta principal. También se han empleado metodologías ágiles de desarrollo además de otras técnicas de ingeniería del software. El resultado es Riskmática, un videojuego educativo de dominación geográfica en el que el arma más eficaz es el conocimiento. Los jugadores deberán conquistar territorios a sus adversarios mediante la respuesta de preguntas de carácter matemático. Además el videojuego cuenta con la funcionalidad necesaria para configurar una partida e introducir nuevas preguntas. Como conlusión, este proyecto ha logrado crear una tecnología educativa muy atractiva para los alumnos con la que los profesores pueden mejorar la enseñanza de las matemáticas.

A treatise on the game of chess. Containing games of odds, various openings of even games, different methods of winning and drawing the game. Also, numerous critical situations on diagrams. To which are added, the art of playing without seeing the board, and an account of the most celebrated chess players of his time. First published in 1617, by D. Pietro Carrera. Tr. from the Italian, with additional notes and remarks by W. Lewis.

Mode of access: Internet.

The chess player / by George Walker; to which are added the three games played at one and the same time by Philidor; sixty openings, mates and situations, by W. S. Kenny, with remarks, anecdotes, &c. &c., and an explanation of the round chess board.

Mode of access: Internet.

Artemídia preferente: fenômeno jogar & ler nas histórias em quadrinhos interativas (HQI) com os games de RPG

This artistic-scientific process aims to innovate the concept of Interactive Comics by adding them into the concept of RPG games and Single-Adventures. To make it properly done, there will be some issues about Interactivity, history of the Comic Strip and Mangas, and their techniques of use. Also, there will be other issues involving Electronic Comics and Interactive Comics, in addition to the concept of the RPG games and Single-Adventures, so that the reader of this paper could understand the practical result of every issue combined into one. The identification of these issues is made from a bibliographic and iconographic research, and it will also be displayed throughout the content. Some decisions will be thrown along this paper for the reader to decide and, therefore, understand the Interactivity process in a better way. The combined issues’ result will be presented in my interactive website, http://a3studios.com.br/iss/home (address not final) or http://amstarproductions.net (final address), where the readers will have to experience the “Play&Read” phenomenon. Furthermore, this work is inserted in the line of the research Artistic Processes and Procedures of the Department of Fine Arts from the Art Institute of UNESP, whose methodology used was the Freinet Educational Cybernetics, developed in the research group Media Arts and Videoclip leaded by the leading advisor for this Final Course Work. The result and discussion of artistic and scientific research were reported in monographs such as this that I present, with the following versions: PDF version for dissemination in the virtual repository of the Institute of Arts’ Library; hardcover version for physical collection at the Library of Institute of Arts; The Printed Version for the board of examiners; and an appropriated template version for submission to International Scientific Congress in the area of Arts.

The dark side of the board: advances in chess Kriegspiel

While imperfect information games are an excellent model of real-world problems and tasks, they are often difficult for computer programs to play at a high level of proficiency, especially if they involve major uncertainty and a very large state space. Kriegspiel, a variant of chess making it similar to a wargame, is a perfect example: while the game was studied for decades from a game-theoretical viewpoint, it was only very recently that the first practical algorithms for playing it began to appear. This thesis presents, documents and tests a multi-sided effort towards making a strong Kriegspiel player, using heuristic searching, retrograde analysis and Monte Carlo tree search algorithms to achieve increasingly higher levels of play. The resulting program is currently the strongest computer player in the world and plays at an above-average human level.