Abstract
Game-based practice within Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITSs) can be optimized by examining how properties of practice activities influence learning outcomes and motivation. In the current study, we manipulated when game-based practice was available to students. All students (n = 149) first completed lesson videos in iSTART-2, an ITS focusing on reading comprehension strategies. They then practiced with iSTART-2 for two 2-hour sessions. Students’ first session was either in a game or nongame practice environment. In the second session, they either switched to the alternate environment or remained in the same environment. Students’ comprehension was tested at pretest and posttest, and motivational measures were collected. Overall, students’ comprehension increased from pretest to posttest. Effect sizes of the pretest to posttest gain suggested that switching from the game to nongame environment was least effective, while switching from a nongame to game environment or remaining in the game environment was more effective. However, these differences between the practice conditions were not statistically significant, either on comprehension or motivation measures, suggesting that for iSTART-2, the timing of game-based practice availability does not substantially impact students’ experience in the system.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported in part by the Institute for Educational Sciences (IES R305A130124). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IES. We thank the many colleagues and students who have contributed to this work, and extend a special thanks to Tricia Guerrero for her help in coding data for this project.
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Jacovina, M.E., Tanner Jackson, G., Snow, E.L., McNamara, D.S. (2016). Timing Game-Based Practice in a Reading Comprehension Strategy Tutor. In: Micarelli, A., Stamper, J., Panourgia, K. (eds) Intelligent Tutoring Systems. ITS 2016. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 9684. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39583-8_6
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