EGC Works Podcast #1: Ecoracer game accelerates learning in Penn State engineering course
Peter Idowu, associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State Harrisburg, talks about how a racing game helps him effectively teach students about energy use and the environment.
Link to the podcast is here.
Jamie Oberdick of Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) recently had a conversation on educational gaming with Peter Idowu, associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State Harrisburg. They discussed his work with TLT’s Educational Gaming Commons (EGC) to develop an innovative and effective educational game called Ecoracer.
Idowu knew that he needed to teach a large amount of concepts but had limited time in class. Inspired by other educational gaming he had seen, he worked with a student on a basic educational racing game that would communicate engineering concepts in a concise manner. Last year, he looked for a partner to expand the racing game, and the EGC organized a team to help him develop Ecoracer.
EcoRacer is a simple car racing game where a player completes laps around a track with the engine that offers the best speed and fuel use while having the least impact on the environment. The racecar has four engines that may be activated (one at a time) anytime during the game. The engines are powered either by gasoline, solar, wind, or hydrogen. The goal of the game is to score high by finishing in the least amount of time while producing the least emissions.
By playing the game, students learn about the availability of various forms of energy, renewable energy, performance issues of certain energy, and the impact of various energy sources on the environment. Idowu noted that his students found it effective and helpful.
The success of Ecoracer expanded beyond Penn State. Soon faculty at other universities were talking to Idowu about using the game in their courses. Also, K-12 teachers and science camps became interested in Ecoracer.
To learn more, listen to the podcast interview Oberdick conducted with Idowu at the link below. They discuss Ecoracer’s success; what students learn from it; the benefits of gaming overall for faculty and students; and how the EGC worked with Idowu in development, implementation, and assessment of the game’s effectiveness.
If you would like to download the game (free of charge), please go to the EGC site at http://gaming.psu.edu/ecoracer
