Dr. Jennifer Kahn of the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development Develops a Video Game for Teaching Data Analysis
Dr. Jennifer Kahn, a faculty member at the University of Miami’s School of Education and Human Development, is co-leading a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project that introduces middle school students to data science through a unique video game called Isles of Ilkmark. Featured in the Spring 2024 Concord Newsletter, this fictional multiplayer game immerses students in a world where data science and gameplay intersect, allowing players to explore islands, interact with creatures, and use gameplay-generated data to make strategic decisions.
“In the game world, we’ve given players access to the data they generate through gameplay… They can use that data to inform gameplay and collaborate with other players,” said Dr. Kahn.
Set on a series of magical biomes, Isles of Ilkmark engages players as citizens who maintain the delicate balance of their ecosystem. Players must respond to crises, such as a food shortage or an illness impacting the island’s creatures, using data they collect and analyze from the game.
“We’ve designed a video game… a virtual world where you go in with an avatar… It’s a data science learning environment,” said Dr. Kahn.
The game’s narrative structure encourages students to explore data science practices authentically.
“Students’ actions in the game—from foraging for resources to interacting with local creatures—all generate personalized data logs. This grounds data science in their unique gameplay experiences and goals,” wrote Isles of Ilkmark co-developer Lisa Hardy, Research Scientist in Concord Consortium,in the Concord newsletter.
For example, players might analyze their foraging logs to source high-quality ingredients, forming hypotheses and adjusting their strategies based on patterns they observe. They can even query the game’s broader data pool, comparing their findings with classmates.
Isles of Ilkmark’s data-rich environment, paired with visual tools and integration with CODAP, lets students conduct complex investigations. As they play, they encounter challenges like analyzing symptoms and treatments to address a mysterious creature illness, drawing insights from creature activity data.
“The goal is to broaden participation in STEM and data science fields… to open pathways into those fields for kids,” said Dr. Kahn.
In the project’s next phase, Dr. Kahn and her collaborators aim to support teachers in using the game to meet specific data science learning goals.
For those interested in game-based learning, sign-ups are available through Concord’s website (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/datagames), with game rollout planned for spring. Through this collaborative, immersive learning environment, Isles of Ilkmark introduces young students to data science, sparking early interest in STEM fields.
Professor Kahn’s data science game, designed to engage middle school girls in data literacy through informal gaming clubs, is funded by National Science Foundation (https://concord.org/our-work/research-projects/data-science-learning-for-girls/). This grant supports the creation of social game-based learning experiences, aiming to foster interest in data science among young girls from underrepresented groups in STEM. By incorporating personal and social goals, the project seeks to develop data science skills and build a “data science identity” through both self-directed play and structured data science clubs.
