Design of a Mobile Game for Wireless Networks Planning Learning

Abstract

Game based learning has been a polemic topic during the last 10 years. There are different points of view between those who think that games only develop skills related with playing games such as: mental speed, reaction, connection between thoughts and movements and concentration. And those who think that additionally, games can improve the knowledge acquisition in a specific topic. This research tries to show how both sides can be integrated to create gamming experiences that improve the student knowledge on wireless networks and make use of the powerful qualities of gamming to engage the students. This paper shows the implementation of an interactive game created using the latest technology for games design over mobile platforms. The game has been developed to improve the students' knowledge in the field of wireless networks planning. It allows students to solve simple problems of antennas distribution and progressively increase the level adding constraints and including new concepts in the design of the network. Basic elements of gamming were included such as scores, badges, characters, levels and a special tutorial mode that explain how to play the game but also mix the topic concepts. The main goal of this game prototype is to create a game experience that can be played by any person in the basic level and with the acquisition of the knowledge the level of difficulty in the game will increase. Our hypothesis is: if a person masters this game he will also master the topic.

Gamification Applied to a Microprocessor Systems Laboratory Activity

“…Normally this strategy is applied by including games in the instruction process or incorporating concepts of the class as part of the dynamics of a game the students play individually or in groups. These Game-based learning activities motivate students to learn intrinsically because they can play in scenarios of real life [4].…”