Conference PaperPDF Available

When a Console Game Becomes CSCL: Play, Participatory Learning and 8-bit Home Computing in India

Authors:

Abstract

This paper presents evidence describing how a single player typing game' designed for use on a low-cost (∼US$10) computing platform' was utilized as a computer-supported collaborative learning activity. The group computer interaction was found to consistently induce verbal language experiences that extended the potential educational utility of the highly limited 8-bit computing platform. Building on these experiences' we describe some of the design implications for promoting participatory learning with video games' particularly in low-income households and developing contexts.
When a console game becomes CSCL: Play, participatory learning
and 8-bit home computing in India
 ! "#
$%&'())&'()()&
*+&,-!"./#)#",-,- "#
$%&*')&(( 00'0)
1212&(3(/&/4
"5!61&
$%')(
Abstract: 300&(0(&(20&&2
 0  7((0 02  &0&
8&    &&      (  ) 9& 
 *0(  &(  2  & 0( 2  0 2 &0
(2(2&0()
Introduction
:  (  #;#00(&2(& (  &(
00 0770 ( 0( && (0)9#(  
(( 00 &  <+& = !!> &  0(
&(*<?(=!!>)(0&((
2(2&(%(&&2&&2&(&&0
&02&(&&0)
300&(0&0&&&&(*257
(0&0()&(&57@&((0@&&8
2&0(A((23B7((&(0<3B>2
#C )0(057(0(22&D@&&()E
F((&(&2G7(&(1&
&&  & (*  ( 57   &  ) :  &0& ! 57
(0 2  & & &&  2 &&& 3B)
9( (03B2 (&0(& 2 7(2
0(&002((0()1
00  &(  000 2     && 2    (
&&2((&0(00):&(&2((*
&(((&02(((2
70)
About the Platform
3B7((&(0<3B>00(0&&(2&&1&&
&0&  (&  ? #&  98 ,(9 &
*()30((&22(&A3B0(
< >)33B&(70(1&2C57!
22&0D&&(E(1&(0"00
 &( C57C 0  < (0 20 1& (&
C!75>) 3 3B is based on hardware components similar to  57 Nintendo Family
Computer(&*020)3((&# 
Nintendo Entertainment System ,$#00 .57&((&((
 (  Super Mario Brothers & Duck Hunt) Like the NES system, the TVC   8-bit
6502 microprocessor technology, putting it in the same technological lineage as the
Apple II, Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Atari 800 and other early home computers.
33B0(&(&(&)F2
(& ( &(7&  & (A   (& ( 00
7&)3 D&((&E((&20
&0(0(200&(H0((0&57
&(&0& .5(Number Munchers, Where in the World is Carmen San
Diego, Robot Odyssey& Oregon Trail. 1!.&0(<0)>
2&&&&(2(&(0((&&
7( &2 0&(7& (7  (& 0&&2 
3B):2&2(1!.0)8&2&0
&&&0&(&(23B)3&02( Hanuman
Typing Warrior&(&2()
 )33B02) )30(0(A )&0(&&0
&&1&A ()#(200)
Game Design
1   2 !.   & 0  &  +&& 1&   &8 &&
&201&&()(08&(&
&(0(02(&A&2&21$F+&
<+>3&&2000002&)F0(0(
&0(0(H20(20H2*
0 (   &( & ((  20  <0 ( 
&22( 2 C & C  >)&2 Hanuman, Typing Warrior 
&0& & 0  00    1& 0( Ramayana ( 7& +
 2  + 2(27 2 2&& *)
20&0Hanuman (&I*70(
2&&570)
Description of Hanuman Typing Warrior
3&(&calls for the player to assume the role of Hanuman and defeat various
monsters during his quest)3(22&(&0%(0&
2&(024(&(0
& 2    H( + 2  0 2   2    ( )
Successfully completing each level requires the ability to type with increasing accuracy and speed.
 ()(20Hanuman Typing Warrior <2&2
0%JJ)(J I"!6 G>)&(&&<>%
3 0 +< > 2& 0  2&  <">A
((0&&&<">&(*0&)3202
*<">(H(2008&2((
0)F(  0 0 *  2* <G> ((( 0& 
(+<!>)+20&0<G>2
(+):+2((
(&0<">&<G>000
((2&2)
Methods
30002(*&2&22227
72(2  00)0  00)(&2 9
&&&(&&00*!22&(202
&((()1202(&(&&&G
7&&(2<C57C"JJ&>9&&&2
&&&2*02(7(2)1(&
02( 57 3B7(0 <0(&2#C ( (> 3B 
2220)(2!2((&(&270
&&&02&(2K&(&)1(&270
( (& (&0&2& 3B) 12
02((&(&.7 52 G20(0&
0 ) 2(02   0  2 0& 
00)0(Hanuman Typing Warrior.
3002(&(00(2(&2(*(&
22&(203B02)3022(&
(&&8&)00&&&&0&
&(&2(2(2700()9
&(  2 &(    22&& (&  2 &
0(2(22(*)
Results and Discussion
1    &  ( &7  0 (  &  0 2 
00& D&&E &   (  &  0& )  
&( ( &   (   &&( 2  (2
0(0 & (   2) :   *( 2  (  (& 
20(0&022(2(0()
F*0(0(&&700(
&  (  0 & & (&(& & 0 < LC5J>  & 
00  2 (&    2   22 )     2(&
(& &&&202$)120&(
  (& 2 &(2 3B  0& 2 &
(&2)3&&2(0&(&*0&2
2)9<3 >((0222&()
30(0(&2(&&&&2 (&0+30
:<))6/7&&>)2(03(&
(   0  &   2 (0   (&   2 
02(&&&(000(02
(0((22&(&(20&()1
(0(&0000(2)
022(02&)
(0   2  0 &&( (  (
()1(0&3B2(
  0&   2 < = / !I> & 2   < Dangwal, Jha,
Chatterjee, & Mitra, 2005>) 1(& (  && 2 (& & 
(&( & (<))&0&>)#(&(2
DE   2 H   & 00    *0(  
(0(&(&&20<,&(
( =!.>) 3 ( 2&  .. 2  # (&(( 
&( (0  ( 0&& (  H ((  &  &
&0(<+ ..6A+=+& ..6A=+!>)
# 2 (&& ( H  &
(0 ( &   ( 0(0       2()  )&/
<!I>  && (  2 (0 &(  1& && 
0<2(&&>&(&<
&((((*(00(&>&00&
& (& 2 (  &&  2 (0   0) F 0& 2
0 H  & (0     *0&    (& 7
(0(0 8 07(& ( (&
(0DE(0(0&&0(
*0(& &  &(  4 0<10 9 /= 
..A 10 9  = 0 ..A  = + !>)   ) <!.> 2&  (
00  (   (     & 2(  0 
(A0&()F0&22H7
(2((&(00(<
=0!5!.>&07&&(00(&00&(<Sahni, et
al., 2008A+&+&=3!!6! >)F2&
&0 (2(& (02&2(7&
H0*(07(&0
&(0&(*272)
3 %)3(0202+&9)
#(&%
G#(&%
0 Seconds
A 7- year- old girl (7G) is playing +30:. Her two
older sisters (9G and 15G) are looking on and helping her play. 9G
had been playing for 5-10 minutes previously, but had reached a
challenging stage where a monster is able to strike the game
character Hanuman. After being hit, she 9G deferred to her younger
sister 7G, who wanted to play. However, their older brother (13B)
also wants to play and eventually gets the chance.
7G:Looks down, presses Don the keyboardand saysDEas she
looks up at the TV screen. Looks down at the keyboard.
7G: Presses button E. Says D$Elooks up at screen, presumably to
confirm it has been pressed, says DE thenlooks down and presses F.
9G:Says,D$M$Eperhaps as a way to indicate the next letter to be
typed while 7G is looking at the keyboard.
7G:While looking down,presses E. Thenlooks up and scratches
head.Says,D$Eand then looks down at keyboard.
13B:Reaches over 7G’s shoulder towards the keyboard, saying D)E
10 Seconds
7G:PressesA and then looks up. SaysDEthenlooks down.
7G:Presses T, looks up and sayuttersD3E thenlooks down again.
9G:D)E13B:D)E
7G:Presses M. As she looks up, she says DEthenlooks down.
13B:DF)E
7G:Looking down, presses O and says DF)EPresses N, then looks up.
SaysD,Eandlooks back down.
13B: D#)E 9G:D#)E
7G:Presses S but it doesn’t work.Looks up, saysD#Eand looks down.
9G:D3)E Hanuman gets hit in the game.
9G:D,ME
22 Seconds:
7G’s older brother 13B moves in to the space by the keyboard, while
7G steps to the side. 13B begins to type, with index fingers of both
hands extended.
13B:Presses D and says, D)E
7G:D$)))E13B:#D$,E13B thensearches for this button and
presses it.
30 Seconds:
7G:D)))E7G puts her finger over the F button but does not press it.
13B pushes down on 7G’s finger to press button.
13B:D)E13B pushes 7G’s hand away from the keyboard.
9G: D$E
7G:D$)E7G reaches over and presses E.
13B:D$)E 13B looks around then pushes at the air above the
keyboard where 7G’s hand was.
13B:D)E 9G:D)E
9G reaches over and presses A. 13B pulls 9G’s hand away from the
keyboard. 9G tries to press T but 13B pulls 9G’s hand away again.
7G:D33)E 13B:presses T for himself.D3)E
40 Seconds
15G%DNE<DO(H(NE>
13B: D)E 7G: D)E9G: “)E 13B:Presses M.
9G:DF)E7G:DF)E
13B:13B presses O, but maybe not completely. Says, DF)E
7G:D,)E
7G:Appears to see that O is not highlighted. Shouts,DFNE
13B looks up to the screen and then moves to press O. However, time
is up and Hanuman gets hit. 9G makes a disdeictic gesture.
9G:D3F)E
50 Seconds
32#(8&#2202((08(0
&&0&)12&0 
#(8&#<!6>&&&(D(*2(
E <0) I"">2(    2      D(7
((E<0)I"G> (000((&()##(8
& (<!5>        278& D2*  E
 &( 0 ( DP7K ((  &  0& 00 2
D(404(& 0 K&& &2((
((E<#!5A0)!7">)
1 &#  0 DH2 7 (Q
(2(K&&&&&*0(
2&404(E<#!5A0)5>)
#0020(0 Hanuman Typing
Warrior 2(&+&9)&(002(7
(0 (  (  &2&   (0) 3    70(
&(0&0K(),7000(0&
&70&(0&((&2)
3(2&(0&0220(0
&(( &2 &)+ & (&
(0&&(&(20)3(02&(
 &( 2 & 7( 0(2&  &
0)(0(0./&0)+22&
0H(&(&&(6/)3
(0 "9 H(&  (2 6/),7&0 ( 
0(0&&./&6/(&02
"9&(0)1(0&&0&(
00((0(2(()+&0&&
&(0(002( "9&0(
 0( (  &) F & "9  0( (22&
6/02&(((2()
3  0 2 2 &( 0(0  Hanuman Typing Warrior   &
&&20&70)30(&
2&)1(06/&420(4(
02&(&)1000
(2((20&)+&(&&
0(20&0(&0&*)1
(  (0 70    0  0 
0   ((2 0&)3  0 (* (
(&K2&?0A0&00&
2($&&?(0&)$(&
0((20(&(0(((&()
/00(00&&&)(2
&&20(0 2(
& 02(   3B) 3  &  & 0 2 0  0%
&(2&0&02&(&&(
2&()&((02
0&2020&((
()1&.77&0&(& Bubble Bobble 2(&
(&2)((&0&&
22()#& 0(2(((22
&)+&&((20K
&*0&&)3&(&(2(
0<(>&02&()F2
(*0(&(2&(2&(2
&&(&(2)
1&&&0&Super Mario Brothers&Solitaire&(0
(  & ) #     &   0   2   
<&(20>&((0&<
02&(>)1&22*02&(0(0&
&2&(002$2(0200&&
0*&2200(()3022*&
000():&((2&
&0&&(&2&)1(&
&((A&0&((2)
Motivations
30(2(402&((
0((2(02)0((0
(&2*0&&&&2&&0
0&&&(2&()02
&(0(27&(
0(0 0( 2( 0)(
&&DNE0 Super Mario Brothers&&
22&()?&2((42
(0)F((70&0&&(
20K(00(2&2
&(0&*0&000K4&):
&&0(0;:&22(&((
& (&   0(2   & ((& 00 
  0( 0*     &J  ( 0  0   
0 ()+2& <! >(8&(   & 2&&Q
(&   2( & (0   0 (;
&)<!.>2&2!.I00&2&(
&0&( "6 2(&22( 0 1&) (
&&*0(70(2(20(0&
(08(0(2((0#()
Conclusion
57(0&(0(0&((80(&)&0(0
0 & ( 0 & &(   & 2 Hanuman Typing Warrior
( & (&  0( $  &  0&    0  
(&)0 &0 ((*2 0(00*&
(  (02 A2  *0(  2(&K  
2(0&(&),(
   0(0   & 3B7(0    7( 1&
&)3&2(22(*H&2220
2 ( 2&0& 2 ( 2&( ( &0&2 
&8&()  (&(   (* H  &(( 4
 ( 2( 2&((0  2K 
) 3(0 02    (( (
&(2(&&*(&07&()&&
2&&(*(00222
(&02(($<&J&(>(&
& 0 &(  0 (0(0&)&& & 2 2 2 
 &   ((  00   &    2  2
() + (&(  (( 0K&& 2 2
&K&(070
&*2(02<(Mario Brothers
*0>) 0  2(  (* (    &7&&  00    
(2 ( (00 &(0&000
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References
?)R#)4#)=#)<!>)&2(&(H(02
777(00(0()Information Technologies and International Development
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Sahni, U., Gupta, R., Hull, G., Javid, P., Setia, T., Toyama, K., & Wang, R. (2008). Using digital video in rural
Indian schools: A study of teacher development and student achievement. Presented at Annual meeting
of the American Educational Research Association, New York, NY.
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Acknowledgments
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Field Research Training by Meera Lakshmanan.
Bangalore Fieldwork Team: Aliya Pabani, Alisha Panjwani, Tanvi Srivastava.
Ahmedabad fieldwork team:Pranav patadiya, Parth Rao, Sonali Dubey
Programming: Revoori Vishvesh, Vivek Fitkariwala, Kishan Patel, Parth Rao, Ankit Patel, Dheeraj Medikonda,
Darsh Shah, Yash Soni, Anshul Pahwa
VV+$3+1#1331F,:13+3+$/?F%
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Becomes CSCL: Play, Participatory Learning and 8-Bit Home Computing in India. 3 00 
Proceedings of ISLS Conference on Computer Support for Collaborative Learning <# K >+ 
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... In fact, the TVC is compatible with the cartridge-based software of the 8-bit Nintendo Family Computer, or Famicom. The Famicom (modified for sale in the USA as the Nintendo Entertainment System) sold over 60 million units between 1983-1995 [17]. While most of the patents have expired on the Famicom, clones of this product (known as Famiclones) occupy a legally ambiguous greymarket. ...
... This study began as an evaluation of whether the TVC could serve as a viable low-cost platform for enhancing computer literacy and other skills, which resulted in the fieldtesting of three new 8-bit learning games (see playpower.org online community and [17]). However, during our analysis of the design factors that enabled a 30-year-old computer technology to maintain relevance and utility within contemporary households, we instead focused our analysis on a more generalized understanding of how outdated computers can provide value to re-users. ...
... Other researchers have described the interaction between social structures and videogame play. Some of the earliest work was done by Mitchell, who, in the early 1980s, investigated family dynamics around 8-bit video games [17]. She found that parents were important mediators of video game access and that video game play was, primarily, a social experience. ...
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