Developing Puzzle Video Games for Teaching System Dynamics

Concept from a frequency-response puzzle game.

Help develop puzzle video games to be used in engineering classrooms.

Project description

We typically learn engineering through solving textbook problems...but video games offer a more interactive way to learn. Video games are fun, they provide immediate feedback, and guide us through levels that allow us to incrementally increase our skills. Because of this, Game-Based Learning (GBL) is an instructional method that is gaining more and more traction in the engineering education community.

This project aims to develop puzzle video games that teach engineers topics from System Dynamics. Further, we want to develop a web-interface to log player data. Specifically, we are developing two video games in Javascript:

  • A Centipede-like game that teaches players about natural frequency and damping ratio
  • A puzzle game that teaches players about frequency response and bode plots

For this project, you will:

  • Help with game development
  • Help develop a web interface to log player data

Project outcome

The outcomes of this project include:

  • Javascript puzzle games that can be used in an educational setting
  • A web-interface to log player data from the games

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment About a semester (3-5 months)
Start time Anytime
In-person, remote, or hybrid?
 Remote
Level of collaboration Small group project (2-3 students)
Benefits Academic Credit
Who is eligible Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors who have completed MAE 340 and/or CSE 115/116; CSE 312 preferable

Project mentor

Aaron Estes

Assistant Professor

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

217 Bell Hall

Phone: 716-645-1430

Email: aaronest@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

Keywords

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering