Research On The Design Of Children’s Fire Education Game Using Augmented Reality Technology Based On Learning Scaffolds

The emergence of new technologies such as augmented reality offers new teaching models for the future of children’s fire safety education,which can support personalized learning and targeted teaching.As an ideal digital medium that combines technology and teaching,educational games can provide children with more fun and contribute to improved learning outcomes.This research focuses on the design of the proportion and form of learning events in the game process,aiming to achieve a harmonious unity of external form and internal content.A learning scaffold-based educational game design strategy is proposed,and the specific research is conducted as follows:(1)Starting from the current research status of augmented reality educational games,combined with the theoretical research and application of learning scaffolds,we explore the feasibility and challenges of learners independently completing gamified learning tasks.A suitable research topic is chosen to fully exploit the advantages of technology and theory.(2)Sixty-six school-age children aged 9 to 12 are selected as research subjects,with fire safety knowledge as the game theme.A two-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)method is used to explore the effects of scaffold presentation timing and learners’ prior knowledge experience on learning performance,using the consistent improvement of learning outcomes,perceived learning,perceived fun,and flow experience as the evaluation criteria for achieving unity between the game’s external form and fire safety education core.(3)Based on experimental data and case analysis,four scaffold design strategies are obtained: appropriate timing guidance,immersive experiences creation,form following function,and dynamic intensity adjustment.A hierarchical learning scaffold element model based on augmented reality educational games is constructed from three levels: dynamics,mechanism,and component,to guide game design.(4)Based on the above model and the analysis of target objects,teaching content,and game scaffolds,the augmented reality fire safety game "Fire Space" is designed and developed.This game is an augmented reality fire safety educational game for 9 to 12-year-old primary school students,which can be used in multimedia classrooms or family scenarios.Players need to independently complete safety hazard detection tasks and a five-minute time-limited fire escape task in a virtual and real integrated environment,understand various causes and coping methods of electrical fires,and thus exercise their quick response ability and observation skills in crisis situations,enhancing fire safety awareness and respect for firefighting work.(5)A usability test in an independent learning situation verifies that the augmented reality game experience can promote the fire knowledge learning and the game process is enough to mobilize the enthusiasm of children.Further,user interviews are conducted to gather students’ and parents’ positive and concerned attitudes toward this educational game mode.This research proposes an educational game design model based on learning scaffold theory,aiming to integrate the "fun" and "education" aspects of fire safety game experiences.The study expands the expression forms of dynamics,mechanism,and components of learning scaffolds in the game domain,providing theoretical and practical support for the design of educational games with other themes in the future.