Using Mobile Game-like Simulation to Promote Inquiry-based Laboratory Learning in Elementary School Science

Abstract

We report on a pre-experimental research study that was conducted with elementary school students over a month. It chronicles the development and implementation of SmartFarm, a game-based interactive simulation for promoting elementary school students’ inquiry-based laboratory learning of factors affecting plant growth. In order to facilitate the inquiry-based learning with the simulation on the scientific concept of plant growth, SmartFarm is a digital card-oriented role-playing simulation that consists of science experiment activities involving different factors related to the growth of plant, i.e. soil, light, water, and gas. It aims to promote a playful inquiry-based laboratory in science for elementary school students, and thus enhances scientific understanding and their science motivation. In this paper, we describe the development of SmartFarm mobile game-like simulation as an innovative inquiry tool in elementary school science and its implementation with 32 of fourth-grade students in a public elementary school located in northeastern region of Thailand. We analyzed the students’ scientific understanding by comparing before and after receiving the intervention and their performance of scientific explanation during participating the inquiry lessons. The results indicated that the mobile game-like simulation integrated into inquiry-based laboratory learning could promote Thai elementary school students’ better scientific understanding of and support their ability to explain scientific phenomena on factors affecting plant growth. Based on this finding, the use of mobile game-like simulation as a cognitive tool with the facilitation of inquiry learning process by teacher is an effective way to promote science laboratory learning for new-generation learners in 21st century education era.