Implementing SGIQ-based Assessments in Virtual Environments

Colonel Goran Šimić, Director of the Serbian ADL Partnership Center and Head of the Center for Simulations and Distance Learning at the Serbian Ministry of Defense and Serbian Army, has written an article for the Journal of Computer Assisted Learning introducing the usage of Serious Gaming Interactive Questions (SGIQ) in virtual environments.

Simulations and virtual environments are being used in an increasing manner to allow learners to practice skills that are too expensive to carry out in a real life scenario.  Unfortunately, the true/false and multiple-choice assessments which are implemented in these environments primarily test a learner's recognition rather than their "real knowledge and their motivation to achieve the best results they can."

As a result, a case study was performed using a combination of the e-learning tool, IPA-PBL enabled with WebGL and X3D, and SGIQ-based assessments with doctors, surgeons, and their assistants preparing for Air Medical Evacuation and Transport (AMET).  Instead of delivering questions using illustrations, audio, video, or text content in a virtual environment, with SGIQ, "the real content is a 3D interactive space while text represents only an explanation of a task to be performed."  Using SGIQ-based assessment three types of skills and knowledge are evaluated determining preparedness for AMET:

• Knowing and fast finding of equipment and medicament in the aircraft,
• Monitoring the patient state during the transport, and
• Knowing the procedures and actions appropriate to the patient's state and conditions.

Example Monitoring Patients Questions Design

Implementing SGIQ-based assessments in highly interactive virtual environments is the closest way to examine a learner's skills without having to use real equipment.  Future research will include implementing SGIQ tasks into existing LMS', developing ways to identify and measure non-cognitive concepts that affect the assessments, and continued improvement of scenarios making them more realistic.

For more information, download the full article.