Educational RPG to Teach Machine Learning
General Objective of the Project
An educational RPG (Role-Playing Game) is a type of game designed to integrate learning and gaming into a seamless, engaging experience. The general objective of such RPGs is to enhance learning by incorporating educational content into the mechanics and storyline of the game. This approach aims to motivate players through compelling narratives and interactive gameplay, making learning feel less like a chore and more like an adventure. Players often take on roles that require them to solve puzzles, complete quests, and interact with characters in a way that builds knowledge and skills relevant to real-world applications.
This type of game is a joint entrepreneurial project between Krishan Heredia (learning specialist and writer) and Julio Uriostegui (machine learning specialist and writer).
Introduction
Welcome to an immersive role-playing game where learning and adventure meet. Set aboard the USS Odyssey, players embark on a journey through the cosmos, encountering challenges that blend educational content with engaging gameplay. This project serves as a minimum viable product (MVP) to demonstrate the core mechanics and educational potential of the game.
Objectives
- To blend traditional educational methods with the interactive elements of RPGs.
- To motivate players through gamification, enhancing both learning and retention.
- To provide a scalable model that can be expanded with more content and features.
Game Mechanics
Character Progression: Players start as Ensigns and advance to higher ranks like Navigator, Data Analyst, and Engineer by earning XP points and demonstrating knowledge.
Types of Points:
- XP Points: Level up abilities and ranks.
- Tera: In-game currency for customization and purchases.
- Honor Points: Earned through educational activities like tutoring and project collaboration.
Ways of Earning Honor
- Giving feedback on a classmate’s assignment
- Working on a collaborative project
- Tutoring classmates who are struggling
- Contributing original ideas or creative solutions
- Consistent study
- Going beyond curriculum and exploring related topics
- Share useful resources or study tips with classmates
- Completing extra-curricular activities
- Active participation
- Connect concepts from different subjects to solve interdisciplinary challenges
Effects of Unlockable Objects
- [X] the [Point] for the next three quizzes completed
- [X] the [Point] for all [Topic] challenges
- Reveals hints for the next [n] challenges
- Gives [n] times the amount of [Point] on top of [Point] for [Activity]
- Allows the player to skip a challenge but at the cost of [n] [Point]
AI Companion
A basic AI companion assists players from the start, with upgrades available as players progress.
Educational Integration
Scripted Learning Moments:
- Vectors and Navigation: Learn about vectors by navigating through an asteroid field.
- Vector Norms in Cartography: Apply vector norms and lengths in a planetary mapping mission.
- Machine Learning for Problem Solving: Use AI to identify and classify plants to cure a mysterious illness.
Click here to download the draft for the educational content and minigames (Uriostegui, J.)
Narrative Elements
Characters
Archeologist Renn
Botanist Dr. Elara
Navigator Lyra
Captain Vega
Script
Part 1: Asteroid Field Navigation (Math Lesson on Vectors)
Cutscene 1: The Encounter
Text: “As the USS Odyssey journeys towards an uncharted planet, a dense asteroid field emerges, threatening the mission.”
Visual: The USS Odyssey approaching a massive asteroid field.
Dialogue 1: Captain Vega and Navigator Lyra
Captain Vega: “We’ve hit an unexpected obstacle. Navigator Lyra, we need precise maneuvers here.”
Navigator Lyra: “Understood, Captain. It’s all about vectors. I’ll calculate our path.”
Learning Moment: Introduction to vectors through navigation.
Cutscene 2: Successful Navigation
Text: “Thanks to precise calculations, the Odyssey elegantly weaves through the asteroids, unscathed.”
Visual: The USS Odyssey navigating smoothly through the asteroid field.
Part 2: Planetary Cartography (Math Lesson on Vector Norms and Lengths)
Cutscene 3: Arrival and Mission Brief
Text: “With the asteroid field behind them, the crew’s new mission is to map the planet’s surface.”
Visual: The USS Odyssey orbiting the newly discovered planet.
Dialogue 2: Captain Vega and the Player
Captain Vega: “We need detailed maps for our colonization efforts. Your task is to assist in the cartography.”
Player Choice: “I’m ready to learn and help.” / “How will we map such a vast area?”
Learning Moment: Introduction to the cartography task emphasizing vector norms and lengths.
Cutscene 4: Completion of Cartography
Text: “The team successfully maps the region, revealing intriguing geological formations.”
Visual: A digital map of the planet’s surface with various marked points of interest.
Part 3: The Sick Archaeologist and Botanical AI Response (Machine Learning Lesson)
Cutscene 5: The Extinct
Paragraph: As the USS Odyssey’s main crew mapped the planet, a separate team of archaeologists, led by the Dutch expert Renn, delved into the lush rainforests of the biggest continent of the southern hemisphere. Their quest was to unravel the mysteries of a civilization long vanished. Amid ancient skyscrapers and relics, they sought to piece together the narrative of this forgotten world. Little did they know, their exploration would lead them to a discovery that would alter the course of their mission and challenge the very safety of the Odyssey’s crew.
Cutscene 6: The Illness
Text: “Upon returning from the rainforest, Archaeologist Renn and their team fall mysteriously ill.”
Visual: Crew members in the medbay, with Renn looking particularly unwell.
Dialogue 3: Dr. Elara and the Player
Dr. Elara: “The cure lies in a specific plant, but it’s hard to distinguish. We need an AI’s help.”
Player Response: “Let’s program the AI to recognize the right plant. We can’t afford any mistakes.”
Learning Moment: Setup for a machine learning lesson focusing on classifying the correct plant species.
Cutscene 7: Finding the Cure
Text: “With the AI’s assistance, the correct plant is identified, and a cure is synthesized, saving the crew.”
Visual: The AI highlighting the correct plant among many, followed by a scene of recovery in the medbay.
