Mainstream Games in the Multi-agent Classroom [PDF]

Abstract_ Computer games make learning fun and support learning through doing. Edutainment software tries to capitalize on this however, it has failed in reaching the levels of motivation and engagement seen in mainstream games. In this context, we have integrated a mainstream first-person shooter game, counter-strike, into the curriculum of our autonomous agents and multi-agent systems course. In this paper we describe this integration and a platform to support the creation of counter-strike agents. In addition, a questionnaire was posed to our students to assess the success of our approach. Results show that students found the idea of applying a first- person-shooter game motivating and the integration with the curriculum useful for their education.
Year_ 2006
Keywords_ autonomous agents, multi-agent systems, teaching, agents platform, counter-strike, mainstream games, education
Authors_ Celso Melo, Rui Prada, Guilherme Raimundo, Joana Paulo Pardal, Helena Sofia Pinto, Ana Paiva
Booktitle_ IAT'06 - IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology
Pages_ 757 -761
Publisher_ IEEE
Address_ Hong Kong
Month_ December

Bibtex_
@inproceedings { melo06, abstract = {Computer games make learning fun and support learning through doing. Edutainment software tries to capitalize on this however, it has failed in reaching the levels of motivation and engagement seen in mainstream games. In this context, we have integrated a mainstream first-person shooter game, counter-strike, into the curriculum of our autonomous agents and multi-agent systems course. In this paper we describe this integration and a platform to support the creation of counter-strike agents. In addition, a questionnaire was posed to our students to assess the success of our approach. Results show that students found the idea of applying a first- person-shooter game motivating and the integration with the curriculum useful for their education.}, address = {Hong Kong}, booktitle = {IAT'06 - IEEE/WIC/ACM International Conference on Intelligent Agent Technology}, keywords = {autonomous agents, multi-agent systems, teaching, agents platform, counter-strike, mainstream games, education}, month = {December}, pages = {757 -761}, publisher = {IEEE}, title = {Mainstream Games in the Multi-agent Classroom}, year = {2006}, author = {Celso Melo and Rui Prada and Guilherme Raimundo and Joana Paulo Pardal and Helena Sofia Pinto and Ana Paiva} }