XBadges. How soft skills are boosted by video games: Improving persistence, risk taking & spatial reasoning with Flappy Bird, Pacman & Tetris
Date
2017Abstract
Abstract — XBadges is a research project based on the
hypothesis that commercial video games (nonserious games) can
train and promote certain soft skills. With a pre and post test model,
Persistence, Spatial Reasoning and Risk Taking were measured
before and after in the subjects (15 divided into groups of 5) trained
for 2 hours with the video games: Flappy Bird, Tetris and Pacman
(respectively). In addition, the emotions of the players were
captured too (thanks to a facial and emotional recognition system),
to determine if emotions also have something to do with the skills
acquisition. The results show how Tetris significantly improves
spatial reasoning and how Pacman significantly improves prudence
in certain areas of behavior. As for emotions, they reveal that being
concentrated helps improve performance and skills acquisition but
frustration is also shown as a key element in the process. With the
results obtained we can begin to glimpse multiple applications in
the education sector and Skilling Development area.