Construction of Videogames by Engineering Students for Understanding Modelling Processes

We present some results of an ongoing research project where university engineering students are asked to construct videogames where they need to use models of physical systems; the purpose of this is to help them learn more about modelling processes and the elements and concepts involved. That is, a constructionist approach of game design is used to promote modelling learning. In the case presented in this paper, 12 students, in their last year of studies, were asked to build a videogame where water is used to solve different levels (puzzles) of the game –and thus requires a model of liquid water behaviour that also needs to meet the restrictions imposed by the game engine. Through this videogame-building task, we observed that students, in a fun and engaging way in which they were receptive and open to experimentation, as well as to making mistakes and learning from those and from other students, were able to deepen and refine how they conceive the process of mathematical modelling, as was evident in written work and group discussions at the end of the activities.