EDU 210 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
Why do AI researchers use games - Answer- - strategic complexity —> improves AI's
reasoning
- test adaptability and real-time decisions
- failure is safe and cheap
- large datasets for training AI systems
- skills generalize to real-world tasks
Learning within games - Answer- - learning occurs implicitly during gameplay (not
formally taught)
- cognitive benefits demonstrated in research (better visual attention, enhanced working
memory, faster decision-making, improved coordination, better mental flexibility)
Gamification - Answer- - using game design elements in non-game contexts like school
- increases engagement, motivation, participation, persistence
- does not mean turning everything into a full game
- applying game elements —> not full games
Gamification in education - Answer- Can be used to...
- support classroom management
- structure learning sequence
- motivate goal-setting
- increase student agency
- develop persistence through appropriate challenge
Which one of Whitton's category's does gamification align with - Answer- Learning from
game design principles
Structural gamification - Answer- Adding game structures around learning without
changing the content
Ex: points, badges, leaderboards, progress bars, levels, reward systems
Content gamification - Answer- Changing the learning content itself to make it more
game-like
Ex: embedding narrative/story, roles/characters, quests, challenges embedded within
content, branching pathways
, Focus of structural gamification - Answer- Motivation
Focus of content gamification - Answer- Making the content feel like a game
James Paul gee (2007) key concept - Answer- - good games are "pleasantly frustrating"
- the challenge level is just beyond current ability
- this maps on vygotskys zone of proximal development (ZPD)
- combines learning theory, game design, and motivation theory
Why does gamification support learning - Answer- - clear goals & feedback loops
- progression systems
- safe failure spaces
- increased engagement
- reinforcement of positive habits
Limitations of gamification - Answer- - can become extrinsic-reward focused
- risk of superficial motivation
- equity concerns
- gamification doesn't = game-based learning
- poor design —> demotivating
- requires thoughtful alignment with curriculum and ethics
Computational thinking according to Jeannette Wing - Answer- - Fundamental skill for
everyone, not just for computer scientists
- should be taught like reading, writing, and arithmetic
- problem-sovling using core concepts from computer science, not just coding
- promotes a way of thinking that helps us understand and interact critically with
technology
- essential for modern citizens and teachers
What does computational thinking involve according to Jeannette Wing - Answer- -
abstraction
- decomposition
- algorithmic thinking
- pattern recognition
Also involves evaluating trade-offs and understanding how computers and humans
solve problems differently
Abstraction - Answer- Simplifying complexity by focusing on the relevant details
Decomposition - Answer- Breaking complex problems into smaller, manageable parts
Algorithmic thinking - Answer- Developing step-by-step procedures to solve problems
(Important stepping stones especially in K-3)
AND ANSWERS ALL CORRECT
Why do AI researchers use games - Answer- - strategic complexity —> improves AI's
reasoning
- test adaptability and real-time decisions
- failure is safe and cheap
- large datasets for training AI systems
- skills generalize to real-world tasks
Learning within games - Answer- - learning occurs implicitly during gameplay (not
formally taught)
- cognitive benefits demonstrated in research (better visual attention, enhanced working
memory, faster decision-making, improved coordination, better mental flexibility)
Gamification - Answer- - using game design elements in non-game contexts like school
- increases engagement, motivation, participation, persistence
- does not mean turning everything into a full game
- applying game elements —> not full games
Gamification in education - Answer- Can be used to...
- support classroom management
- structure learning sequence
- motivate goal-setting
- increase student agency
- develop persistence through appropriate challenge
Which one of Whitton's category's does gamification align with - Answer- Learning from
game design principles
Structural gamification - Answer- Adding game structures around learning without
changing the content
Ex: points, badges, leaderboards, progress bars, levels, reward systems
Content gamification - Answer- Changing the learning content itself to make it more
game-like
Ex: embedding narrative/story, roles/characters, quests, challenges embedded within
content, branching pathways
, Focus of structural gamification - Answer- Motivation
Focus of content gamification - Answer- Making the content feel like a game
James Paul gee (2007) key concept - Answer- - good games are "pleasantly frustrating"
- the challenge level is just beyond current ability
- this maps on vygotskys zone of proximal development (ZPD)
- combines learning theory, game design, and motivation theory
Why does gamification support learning - Answer- - clear goals & feedback loops
- progression systems
- safe failure spaces
- increased engagement
- reinforcement of positive habits
Limitations of gamification - Answer- - can become extrinsic-reward focused
- risk of superficial motivation
- equity concerns
- gamification doesn't = game-based learning
- poor design —> demotivating
- requires thoughtful alignment with curriculum and ethics
Computational thinking according to Jeannette Wing - Answer- - Fundamental skill for
everyone, not just for computer scientists
- should be taught like reading, writing, and arithmetic
- problem-sovling using core concepts from computer science, not just coding
- promotes a way of thinking that helps us understand and interact critically with
technology
- essential for modern citizens and teachers
What does computational thinking involve according to Jeannette Wing - Answer- -
abstraction
- decomposition
- algorithmic thinking
- pattern recognition
Also involves evaluating trade-offs and understanding how computers and humans
solve problems differently
Abstraction - Answer- Simplifying complexity by focusing on the relevant details
Decomposition - Answer- Breaking complex problems into smaller, manageable parts
Algorithmic thinking - Answer- Developing step-by-step procedures to solve problems
(Important stepping stones especially in K-3)
