Video Game to Teach Fluid Mechanics (Work in Progress)

Hadi Kazemiroodsari; Yetunde Folajimi

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Conference: 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Publication Date: August 23, 2022
Start Date: June 26, 2022
End Date: June 29, 2022
Conference Session: Engineering Design Graphics Division Technical Session 3
Page Count: 14
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--41536
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/41536
Download Count: 274

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Paper Authors

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Hadi Kazemiroodsari Wentworth Institute of Technology

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Hadi Kazemiroodsari is associate professor at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He earned his PhD in
Geotechnical engineering from Northeastern University. His area of expertise are Geotechnical engineering and Earthquake engineering.

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Yetunde Folajimi

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Abstract

The use of video games in teaching can be more productive than traditional educational techniques such as reading books/notes and assigning homework. Implementing course content and assignments in video games can be an effective way of engaging students, especially students of generations Generation Z and Generation Alpha, because they already grew up in the era of technology, spending hours each day on their computers or phones. Implementing games for teaching civil engineering courses such as Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Statics have the potential of improving learning and retention among students. Thus, a team of faculty and students from civil engineering and computer science at the authors’ university collaborated on an interdisciplinary project titled “Design of Educational Game for Fluid Mechanics” to be used within the civil engineering curriculum at the authors’ University. The game consists of a character who tries to escape from a warehouse. To accomplish this task, the main character moves from one room to another by solving fluid mechanics related problems. By nature, fluid mechanics problems, such as energy equilibrium, head loss, pump power, and buoyancy can easily be integrated as part of the storyline in a video game. The faculty and student of civil engineering major narrated scenarios, and the computer science faculty and students implemented the scenario using Unity 3D and C# programming interface. This videogame helps students to practice and learn various aspects of fluid mechanics in a more engaging and enjoyable environment. In addition, by playing the game, the student can visualize the real-life application of fluid mechanics. The original prototype was improved through iterative refinement after testing with a few play testers. The game was then used for augmenting the teaching of Fluid Mechanics course among civil engineering students in authors’ University in Fall 2021 Semester. The design process of this game, initial evaluation results, and lessons learned from the perspective of civil engineering are discussed in this paper. This paper intends to provide a framework and testbed for related civil engineering educational games in future.

Citation
Format

Kazemiroodsari, H., & Folajimi, Y. (2022, August), Video Game to Teach Fluid Mechanics (Work in Progress) Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--41536

TY - CPAPER
AB - The use of video games in teaching can be more productive than traditional educational techniques such as reading books/notes and assigning homework. Implementing course content and assignments in video games can be an effective way of engaging students, especially students of generations Generation Z and Generation Alpha, because they already grew up in the era of technology, spending hours each day on their computers or phones. Implementing games for teaching civil engineering courses such as Soil Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics and Statics have the potential of improving learning and retention among students. Thus, a team of faculty and students from civil engineering and computer science at the authors’ university collaborated on an interdisciplinary project titled “Design of Educational Game for Fluid Mechanics” to be used within the civil engineering curriculum at the authors’ University. The game consists of a character who tries to escape from a warehouse. To accomplish this task, the main character moves from one room to another by solving fluid mechanics related problems. By nature, fluid mechanics problems, such as energy equilibrium, head loss, pump power, and buoyancy can easily be integrated as part of the storyline in a video game. The faculty and student of civil engineering major narrated scenarios, and the computer science faculty and students implemented the scenario using Unity 3D and C# programming interface. This videogame helps students to practice and learn various aspects of fluid mechanics in a more engaging and enjoyable environment. In addition, by playing the game, the student can visualize the real-life application of fluid mechanics. The original prototype was improved through iterative refinement after testing with a few play testers. The game was then used for augmenting the teaching of Fluid Mechanics course among civil engineering students in authors’ University in Fall 2021 Semester. The design process of this game, initial evaluation results, and lessons learned from the perspective of civil engineering are discussed in this paper. This paper intends to provide a framework and testbed for related civil engineering educational games in future.
AU - Hadi Kazemiroodsari
AU - Yetunde Folajimi
CY - Minneapolis, MN
DA - 2022/08/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Video Game to Teach Fluid Mechanics (Work in Progress)
UR - https://peer.asee.org/41536
DO - 10.18260/1-2--41536
ER -