Exploring Collaborative Learning Methods for Multiplayer Educational Games in Low Resource Environments

To facilitate learning in low-resource environments where children must share a single computer, we developed MultiLearn, an educational, single-display groupware system. Prior work has suggested that computer games can be effective for fostering learning (5) and qualitatively supports the benefit of collaboration over competition in a multiple-input, shared display environment (2). Through MultiLearn we have begun to explore the benefits of introducing collaboration into an innately competitive setting (computer games) for learning environments in low-resource areas. We present preliminary findings from a study of 192 students in Bangalore, India, exploring the impact of differing degrees of collaboration and competition within MultiLearn.