Does the emotional design of scaffolds enhance learning and motivational outcomes in game-based learning?

Background

In recent years, the importance of emotions in learning has been increasingly recognized. Applying emotional design to induce positive emotions has been considered a means to enhance the instructional effectiveness of digital learning environments. However, only a few studies have examined the specific effects of emotional design in game-based learning.

Objectives

This quasi-experimental study utilized a value-added research approach to investigate whether emotional design applied to scaffolding in a game-based learning environment improves learning and motivational outcomes more than emotionally neutral scaffolding.

Methods

A total of 138 participants, mean age of 11.5 (SD = 0.73) participated in the study. A total of 68 participants played the base version of a fraction learning game (Number Trace), where scaffolding was provided with emotionally neutral mathematical notations, and 70 participants played the value-added version of the game using emotionally designed animated scaffolding agents. Pre-and post-tests were used to measure conceptual fraction knowledge and self-reported measures of situational interest and situational self-efficacy to evaluate motivational outcomes.

Results and Conclusions

Our results indicate that the emotional design applied to scaffolds can improve the educational value of a game-based learning environment by enhancing players' situational interest and situational self-efficacy. However, although the intervention improved the participants' conceptual fraction knowledge, there was no significant difference between the scaffolding conditions in participants' learning outcomes.

Takeaways

The results suggest that emotional design can increase the educational impact of game-based learning by promoting the development of interest, as well as improving self-efficacy.     

When Two Become One: Conformational Changes in FXR/RXR Heterodimers Bound to Steroidal Antagonists

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor with an essential role in regulating bile acid synthesis and cholesterol homeostasis. FXR activation by agonists is explained by an αAF-2-trapping mechanism; however, antagonism mechanisms are diverse. We discuss microsecond molecular dynamics (MD) simulations investigating our recently reported FXR antagonists 2a and 2 h. We study the antagonist-induced conformational changes in the FXR ligand-binding domain, when compared to the synthetic (GW4064) or steroidal (chenodeoxycholic acid, CDCA) FXR agonists in the FXR monomer or FXR/RXR heterodimer r, and in the presence and absence of the coactivator. Our MD data suggest ligand-specific influence on conformations of different FXR-LBD regions, including the α5/α6 region, αAF-2, and α9-11. Changes in the heterodimerization interface induced by antagonists seem to be associated with αAF-2 destabilization, which prevents both co-activator and co-repressor recruitment. Our results provide new insights into the conformational behaviour of FXR, suggesting that FXR antagonism/agonism shift requires a deeper assessment than originally proposed by crystal structures.     

Breathable,Flexible, Transparent,Hydrophobic, and Biotic Sustainable Electrodes for Heating and Biopotential Signal Measurement Applications

Pressure to reduce the global amount of e-waste has increased in recent years. The optimal use of natural resources is a demanding area especially due to the overabundance of the use of resources and challenges with after-life disposal. Herein, an easy method is developed to fabricate an improved version of leaf skeleton-based biodegradable, transparent, flexible, and hydrophobic electrodes. A fractal-like rubber leaf skeleton is used as the substrate, physical vapor deposited Au interlayer to promote adhesion, and uniform deposition of overlayer silver nanowires. The fabricated surfaces present a high level of electrical stability, optical transparency, hydrophobicity, and robust mechanical properties. The prepared electrodes demonstrate a comparable level of optical transmittance to the virgin leaf skeleton. The mechanical sturdiness of the electrodes is verified by 1k bending cycles. To demonstrate the functionality of these hybrid biotic conductive network (HBCN) electrodes, their performance is evaluated as flexible transparent heating elements and as biosignal measurement electrodes. The heater can reach a temperature of 140 °C with only 2.5 V in ≈5 s and Ag nanowire loading of ≈160 μg cm⁻². Likewise, electrocardiogram (ECG) and electromyogram (EMG) signals are successfully obtained from the electrodes without using any electrode gel or other electrolytes.