Development of an Interactive Game-Based Learning Environment to Teach Data Mining

Game-based learning has become a popular topic in all levels of education. A number of computer games have been developed to teach different subjects such as mathematics, English language, medicine, and music. This paper presents the first study that proposes the development of edutainment games to teach data mining techniques with the scope of gamebased learning. The aim of this study is to provide an environment that is both fun and enables the achievement of learning goals in data mining training in computer engineering. An escape game called Mine4Escape, which consists of different rooms to teach different data mining techniques (classification and association rule mining), has been developed for individuals at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The advantages of the proposed approach are discussed in comparison with traditional data mining training. In addition, this paper describes a dynamic scoring system designed for game-based learning. Finally, an experimental study was carried out to evaluate the performance of our learning environment by analyzing feedback received from a test group consisting of 39 undergraduate and graduate students in computer engineering. The findings from the questionnaire show that it is possible to enhance knowledge acquisition about data mining via the game-based approach. However, the degree of learning interest and information acceptance changes according to students' age, gender, educational level, and game habits