EvoEnvi: A Collaborative Serious Game Played On An Interactive Table For Teaching Evolution Using Genetic Algorithms

Abstract

This research is inspired by Boolen and Joolingen's (2013) Simsketch, specifically their simulation in regarding to evolution. The aim of this research is to create a game in order to induce collaboration amongst the players using an interactive table. In addition, the game's design needs to have an easy learning curve so that the players can focus more on the topic the game is trying to teach, rather than on learning how to play the game. Thus, we created a game called EvoEnvi, that is to be played on an interactive table. The game uses a genetic algorithm to simulate natural selection in a population of prey when being hunted by a population of predators. This research explores if EvoEnvi can increase collaboration between players, in addition to having easy to learn mechanics. \newline Six groups of two people participated in the experiment where an empirical evaluation was conducted. Two types of data were collected: the observation data, which concerns the participants' interactions with the table and each other and interviews. \newline From the data collected, EvoEnvi has been shown to have a positive influence on collaboration. In addition, the game itself is easy to understand and has potential to be used for collaborative learning in classrooms.