A player-centric approach to designing spatial skill training games

Helen Wauck; Elisa D. Mekler; Wai Tat Fu

doi:10.1145/3290605.3300296

A player-centric approach to designing spatial skill training games

Helen Wauck, Elisa D. Mekler, Wai Tat Fu

Not published at Aalto University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › Scientific › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Certain video games show promise as tools for training spatial skills, one of the strongest predictors of future success in STEM. However, little is known about the gaming preferences of those who would benefit the most from such interventions: low spatial skill students. To provide guidance on how to design training games for this population, we conducted a survey of 350 participants from three populations: online college-age, students from a low SES high school, and students from a high SES high school. Participants took a timed test of spatial skills and then answered questions about their demographics, gameplay habits, preferences, and motivations. The only predictors of spatial skill were gender and population: female participants from online and low SES high school populations had the lowest spatial skill. In light of these findings, we provide design recommendations for game-based spatial skill interventions targeting low spatial skill students.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI 2019 - Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Publisher	ACM
ISBN (Electronic)	9781450359702
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3290605.3300296
Publication status	Published - 2 May 2019
MoE publication type	A4 Article in a conference publication
Event	ACM SIGCHI Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Glasgow, United Kingdom Duration: 4 May 2019 → 9 May 2019 https://chi2019.acm.org/

Conference

Conference	ACM SIGCHI Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Abbreviated title	ACM CHI
Country	United Kingdom
City	Glasgow
Period	04/05/2019 → 09/05/2019
Internet address	https://chi2019.acm.org/

Keywords

Cognitive training
Emotions
Gender
Motivation
Spatial reasoning
Video games

Access to Document

10.1145/3290605.3300296

Cite this

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title = "A player-centric approach to designing spatial skill training games",

abstract = "Certain video games show promise as tools for training spatial skills, one of the strongest predictors of future success in STEM. However, little is known about the gaming preferences of those who would benefit the most from such interventions: low spatial skill students. To provide guidance on how to design training games for this population, we conducted a survey of 350 participants from three populations: online college-age, students from a low SES high school, and students from a high SES high school. Participants took a timed test of spatial skills and then answered questions about their demographics, gameplay habits, preferences, and motivations. The only predictors of spatial skill were gender and population: female participants from online and low SES high school populations had the lowest spatial skill. In light of these findings, we provide design recommendations for game-based spatial skill interventions targeting low spatial skill students.",

keywords = "Cognitive training, Emotions, Gender, Motivation, Spatial reasoning, Video games",

author = "Helen Wauck and Mekler, {Elisa D.} and Fu, {Wai Tat}",

year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1145/3290605.3300296",

language = "English",

booktitle = "CHI 2019 - Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems",

publisher = "ACM",

note = "ACM SIGCHI Annual Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, ACM CHI ; Conference date: 04-05-2019 Through 09-05-2019",

url = "https://chi2019.acm.org/",

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AU - Mekler, Elisa D.

AU - Fu, Wai Tat

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N2 - Certain video games show promise as tools for training spatial skills, one of the strongest predictors of future success in STEM. However, little is known about the gaming preferences of those who would benefit the most from such interventions: low spatial skill students. To provide guidance on how to design training games for this population, we conducted a survey of 350 participants from three populations: online college-age, students from a low SES high school, and students from a high SES high school. Participants took a timed test of spatial skills and then answered questions about their demographics, gameplay habits, preferences, and motivations. The only predictors of spatial skill were gender and population: female participants from online and low SES high school populations had the lowest spatial skill. In light of these findings, we provide design recommendations for game-based spatial skill interventions targeting low spatial skill students.

AB - Certain video games show promise as tools for training spatial skills, one of the strongest predictors of future success in STEM. However, little is known about the gaming preferences of those who would benefit the most from such interventions: low spatial skill students. To provide guidance on how to design training games for this population, we conducted a survey of 350 participants from three populations: online college-age, students from a low SES high school, and students from a high SES high school. Participants took a timed test of spatial skills and then answered questions about their demographics, gameplay habits, preferences, and motivations. The only predictors of spatial skill were gender and population: female participants from online and low SES high school populations had the lowest spatial skill. In light of these findings, we provide design recommendations for game-based spatial skill interventions targeting low spatial skill students.

KW - Cognitive training

KW - Emotions

KW - Gender

KW - Motivation

KW - Spatial reasoning

KW - Video games

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M3 - Conference contribution

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A player-centric approach to designing spatial skill training games

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CHI Honorable Mention

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A player-centric approach to designing spatial skill training games

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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CHI Honorable Mention

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