Abstract:

Computer games are successful entertainment applications widely spread in our society. These applications present virtual realities with specific rules that challenge game users. The possibility to model real problems and show key information, in an appealing and visual way, can help in the learning process of engineering students.

Nowadays, it is possible to run complex computer games in smartphones and tablets. Small size, number of applications and connectivity are the main advantages of this mobile devices, that overtake the number of PCs.

Despite of their potential capabilities, it is difficult to implement mobile serious games (educational games) and learning process evaluation tools from the scratch, without computer science skills.

We explain how to overcome the previous drawbacks via the use of MIT App Inventor, which is an online open source tool that helps to construct apps by dragging-and-dropping building blocks. Moreover, we explain a methodology to incorporate mobile games in regular engineering courses and to evaluate its effect in the learning process. To support our discussion, we describe the developed method in a manufacturing technology course.

Keywords:

Serious games, Mechanical Engineering, MIT App Inventor.