Construction of a physics education platform with game-design elements for university freshmen

Student disengagement with physics is an issue in Japan that is negatively impacting physics education. Associate Professor Hideaki Hiro-Oka, Physics Unit, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kitasato University, wants to increase students’ motivation for physics by presenting the subject in a more engaging way. He has developed lectures that are presented in a game-like style that seem, at first glance, like play. He has built a website for student self-study that draws on game elements to make learning fun. Via the website, students can participate in quizzes using their smartphones. Similarly to a role-playing game (RPG), he divided the physics subjects into areas, and introduced a system that allows students to improve their skills by tackling each area in order. He also included a learning management system (LMS) on the website that allows students to participate in quizzes during lectures and display results in real time, encouraging competition, manage attendance using the GPS on each student’s smartphone, and submit reports and take online exams. The website acts as a one-stop-shop for students to carry out in lecture activities and self-study. Drawing on a game design component, keywords, Hiro-Oka chose keywords relevant to the students that would spark their interest, including competition, luck, social interaction, reward, honour and collection. By completing daily tasks, students can complete challenges and collect coins. By encouraging this engagement, the goal is to help solidify the habit of daily self-study.