Johanna Pirker

Graz University of Technology | TU Graz · Institute of Interactive Systems and Data Science

Motivational Active Learning (MAL) is an innovative pedagogical approach based on MIT’s teaching format TEAL (Technology-Enabled Active Learning) combined with advanced motivational strategies based on gamification design aspects. The main idea of MAL is to enhance learning outcomes using motivational and social learning experiences. The lecture f...

Organizing a Programming 101 course for a thousand computer science freshmen poses a challenge. One major problem is the high dropout-rate due to insufficient social interactions and the missing feeling of presence. Collaborative home assignments can help to overcome such issues. However, due to scheduling conflicts not all students are able to me...

Attracting and engaging computer science students to enhance their mathematical and algorithmic thinking skills are challenging tasks. In winter 2013 we introduced a new teaching format for a course, which combines theory in computer science with hands-on algorithmic challenges, mathematical thinking activities, and collaborative problem-solving. T...

Understanding basic physical concepts is not an easy task. The Technology Enabled Active Learning Approach (TEAL) is an innovative learning approach and successfully improves the conceptual understanding in teaching freshmen physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This approach requires specially designed classrooms, hands-on experime...

There is a growing interest in virtual immersive environments such as virtual worlds for gaming, socialization, and also learning purpose. Frequently three major issues are mentioned, when using 3D worlds for educational scenarios: high technical requirements, low user acceptance and missing technical know-how. The last two issues can be decreased...

The representation of politics in media influences societal perceptions and attitudes. Video games, as a pervasive form of media, contribute significantly to this phenomenon. In this work, we explore political themes within video games by analyzing politically-themed games on game distribution platforms including Steam. We conducted a statistical e...

Skills in the field of computer science (CS) are increasingly in demand. Often traditional teaching approaches are not sufficient to teach complex computational concepts. Interactive and digital learning experiences have been shown as valuable tools to support learners in understanding. However, the missing social interaction affects the quality of...

Previous research demonstrates that the interruption of immersive experiences may lead to a bias in the results of questionnaires. Thus, the traditional way of presenting questionnaires, paper-based or web-based, may not be compatible with evaluating VR experiences. Recent research has shown the positive impact of embedding questionnaires contextua...

While digital libraries offer essential benefits for the digital age such as constant availability and accessibility, they often fail in providing a similarly enjoyable browsing experience that benefits engagement and serendipitous exploration inherent to traditional library experiences. In this paper, we propose a virtual reality (VR) library envi...

In the intricate landscape of game-playing algorithms, Crazyhouse stands as a complex variant of chess where captured pieces are reintroduced, presenting unique evaluation challenges. This paper explores a hybrid approach that combines traditional evaluation functions with neural network-based evaluations, seeking an optimal balance in performance....

An increasing number of game productions rely on accessibility features. Large productions like The Last of Us demonstrate what is possible in this area, but many games still lack essential accessibility features. Smaller productions often lack the knowledge and resources to implement different accessibility features. In the first part of this pape...

While traditional sport spectator numbers decline, the number of viewers in interactive media such as streaming platforms, video games, and esports continue to increase. In response, Pirker offers a characterization of the new generation of consumers and the technologies opening up new avenues for engaging and immersive experiences. She demonstrate...

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are important drivers of innovation, yet students are often unmotivated and do not understand why they need to learn these subjects. Virtual reality (VR) and virtual environments are useful tools for conceptual understanding with a high degree of immersion. They enable the creation of engagin...

Virtual Reality Digital Twin

In this conference contribution we would like to present our work on the development of a virtual reality digital twin for energy research. Buildings and city districts are increasingly being developed in an integrated way, involving many disciplines simultaneously. As a result, the diversity of research elements and results as well as their interr...

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are important drivers of innovation, yet students are often unmotivated and do not understand why they need to learn these subjects. Virtual reality (VR) and virtual environments are useful tools for conceptual understanding with a high degree of immersion. They enable the creation of engagin...

In this exploratory study we assess tools for digital communication and the underlying motivation of the users to employ them. We analyse important aspects and the differences between private and professional applications and overlaps. Further, the participants reflect upon the use of digital communication tools before and during the pandemic and w...

Empathy refers to what people experience and feel. Experts believed that empathy is an emotional intelligence skill that can be trained and taught. Therefore, it is very important to explore ways to experience and teach emotional empathy. Empathy experiences can be stimulated by reading fiction and other narratives, storytelling, watching movies, a...

This chapter discusses theoretical models for immersive learning and immersive teaching. The subjective and objective factors used in these models are distinguished by levels: micro, meso, and macro. We discuss the terms immersive teaching and immersive learning and possible strategies for implementing learning experiences in the everyday classroom...

For the development of restraint systems, the initial posture and kinematics of the occupants immediately before the crash are essential. To predict the behaviour of vehicle occupants in pre-crash manoeuvres, volunteer tests under controlled boundary conditions to calibrate and validate active human body models are needed. The challenge in such exp...

Game jams require resources. Perhaps the most important and crucial resource is the human element: organisational leadership and labour. Larger game jams can use paid staff members, while smaller ones rely on volunteers. But nothing can happen without at least one dedicated person to assume the role of the jam organiser.

There’s no getting around the fact that organising a game jam is stressful. How stressful you make it for yourself depends on a number of factors such as the jam size. However, smaller jams are not necessarily less stressful than big jams. Managing the expectations of the jammers is probably the hardest element of any jam to organise. A jam that on...

The hype around the series "The Queen's Gambit" led to a boom in playing chess. The game enhances strategic thinking, stimulates intellectual creativity, and improves problem-solving. These skills are increasingly in demand and also essential in the field of computer science (CS). Traditional teaching approaches are often insufficient to teach CS c...

The field of architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) is continually striving to use resources efficiently and manage complex processes. Now more than ever, there is a strong need for digital transformation in AEC. The improvement in the accessibility of consumer-based head-mounted displays (HMD) is attracting different entertainment and r...

In today’s world, there is a growing demand for professionals with skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. At the same time, teaching STEM subjects can be a challenging task, as students struggle to understand abstract concepts and complex phenomena in lectures and textbooks. This has given rise to a new approach to learning cal...

The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the popularity of video games and online-gaming platforms. However, little research is devoted to understanding how the pandemic has affected gamers, especially live-stream broadcasters. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on established streamers on Twitch. By...

Researchers study the user experience in Virtual Reality (VR) typically by collecting either sensory data or using questionnaires. While traditional questionnaire formats present it through web-based survey tools (out-VR), recent studies investigate the effects of presenting questionnaires directly in the virtual environment (in-VR). The in-VR ques...

In less than a year's time, March 2022 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the first documented game jam, the Indie Game Jam, which took place in Oakland, California in 2002. Initially, game jams were widely seen as frivolous activities. Since then, they have taken the world by storm. Game jams have not only become part of the day-to-day process...

In less than a year’s time, March 2022 will mark the twentieth anniversary of the first documented game jam, the Indie Game Jam, which took place in Oakland, California in 2002. Initially, game jams were widely seen as frivolous activities. Since then, they have taken the world by storm. Game jams have not only become part of the day-to-day process...

Twitch is a live streaming platform that was originally designed for gamers to share their gaming experiences. The viewer culture on Twitch supports a lively exchange between streamers and viewers and also among viewers themselves. While the potential of Twitch for game tutorials and instructions has been explored, its potential for university lect...

In most games, social connections are an essential part of the gaming experience. Players connect in communities inside or around games and form friendships, which can be translated into other games or even in the real world. Recent research has investigated social phenomena within the player social network of several multiplayer games, yet we stil...

Humans are social beings. It is therefore not surprising that the social distancing and movement restrictions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic had severe consequences for the well-being of large sections of the population, leading to increased loneliness and related mental diseases. Many people found emotional shelter in online multiplayer gam...

Virtual Reality (VR) environments are computer-generated mediums that try to provide the user a sense of presence. The use of VR term in science has a long history, but an increasing number of commercial cost-effective VR devices are creating new possibilities and applications for it. Regardless of entertainment, as the most widespread market for V...

Virtual reality shows a wide variety of potentials for education. Also, 360-degree-videos can provide educational experiences within such dangerous or non-tangible settings. But what is the potential for the teaching of 360-degree-videos in virtual reality environments Regarding the use of real VR settings in the classroom, research is still scarce...

Skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are increasingly in demand. Theoretical knowledge and formulas alone are frequently not sufficient to understand complex phenomena. Simulations are a valuable tool to support the conceptual understanding by visualizing invisible processes. The constant interaction with the learning...

Virtual reality (VR) technologies have become more affordable and accessible in recent years. This is opening up new methods and opportunities in the field of digital learning. VR can offer new forms of interactive learning and working, especially for subjects from the STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) area. In this context w...

In social and online media, influencers have traditionally been understood as highly visible individuals. Recent outcomes suggest that people are likely to mimic influencers' behavior, which can be exploited, for instance, in marketing strategies. Also in the Games User Research field, the interest in studying player social networks has emerged due...

While traditional sport spectator numbers decline, the number of viewers in interactive media such as streaming platforms, video games, and esports continue to increase. In response, Pirker offers a characterization of the new generation of consumers and the technologies opening up new avenues for engaging and immersive experiences. She demonstrate...

Open-source software is a relevant topic in video game development. Taking a look at the most frequently employed game engines for developing Android games [1] we can see that seven out of ten ranked engines are OSS. Over the last decade, more and more game studios and individual developers switched to open-source software. Oliver Franzke from Doub...

Interactive and digital learning experiences are becoming increasingly important and used to improve various learning scenarios. In physics education, the use of digital simulations or virtual laboratories to support the learners' understanding is already part of most classrooms. Virtual reality experiences can be used to create even more exciting,...

Presence in VR is a perceptual sense that leads to an automatic reaction of the brain-body system. An expected interaction in VR can lead to a higher sense of presence. In this work in progress paper we present a conceptual framework for innovative user interface (UI) design in VR with a focus on realistic interactions with the environment. We inve...

We are pleased to present our iLRN2020 Proceedings volume, contributing insights to immersive learning research and practice across the lifespan. These submissions were peer-reviewed and presented at the 6th annual International Conference of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN2020), and we very much hope you will enjoy reading them. Aut...

In social and online media, influencers have traditionally been understood as highly visible individuals. Recent outcomes suggest that people are likely to mimic influencers' behavior, which can be exploited, for instance, in marketing strategies. Also in the Games User Research field, the interest in studying player social networks has emerged due...

This article focuses on how video games may trigger empathy. On the one hand, globalization and our fast-changing, globalized world have resulted in an empathy deficit, a situation that calls desperately for a new approach to tackle the empathy issue. On the other hand, recent statistical data has shown that players in some countries today spend on...

Immersion is an essential factor for successful learning. Immersive learning environments put learners directly into experiences and events related to the learning content. Virtual reality (VR) experiences give us new opportunities and ways for enabling immersive learning processes. In this chapter, we review different learning environments that us...

The game sCool [10] is a game-based tool to support learners in STEM education. It is a multi-platform mobile learning game designed for school children supporting a flexible and easy integration of various subjects and different courses. Based on the tool sCool, we present a first integrated course, which encourages children to learn computational...

In game jams, the jammer constellations and teams are essential elements for successful and engaging game jams and game jam outcomes. In this paper, we discuss and analyze group forming behavior in jam environments but also look at jammers who want to prefer to jam by themselves. In jam environments, especially the group forming task at the beginni...

This volume constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Network, iLRN 2019, held in London, UK, in June 2019. The 18 revised full papers and presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 60 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on science, technology, e...

In STEM fields, the primary goal is not to teach students how to recite formulas but to support the students’ understanding of underlying principles and phenomena. Students of fields such as physics should be engaged with hands-on experiments and interactive visualizations. In this work, we discuss how modern e-learning tools can support hands-on l...

In this paper we present a case study of the mobile learning game sCool [1]. Based on previous work presented Steinmaurer et. al. (2018) [2] we expand-ed our study by a second experiment and additional aspects. sCool is a mul-ti-platform game that should encourage children learning computational thinking and coding in Python. The learning content i...

Engagement and player experience in multi-player games is influenced by the people you play with. For that reason, grouping features and matchmaking facilities in games, as well as third-party services, have gained in popularity in the industry and player community as they assist in building and maintaining social relationships with like-minded pla...

The broader availability of high-tech devices enables the research and application of enhanced and novel teaching technologies in STEM education, such as 3D learning environments. Also, automated assessment and guidance mechanisms should be considered that meet the requirements of modern competency-oriented curricula and support teachers in the cla...

Social features, matchmaking, and grouping functions are key elements of online multi-player experiences. Understanding how social connections form in and around games and their relationship to in-game activity offers insights for building and maintaining player bases and for improving engagement and retention. This paper presents an analysis of th...

Proceedings from the Fourth Immersive Learning Research Network Conference (Montana, USA).

This volume constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 4th International Conference of the Immersive Learning Network, iLRN 2018, held in Missoula, MT, USA, in June 2018. The 12 revised full papers and the two revised short papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 57 submissions. The papers are organized in topica...

This chapter is an introduction to Social Network Analysis (SNA) with a focus on the context of player and in-game data. An overview of the key elements for network analysis is presented along with a discussion of the possibilities that can be realized through the use of networks and advice on using networks for Games User Research (GUR) to underst...

Game jamming is a valuable tool and process to connect game developers from a range of disciplines such as art, programming, audio engineering, or story-telling. The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) thus fundamentally supports the process of connecting people, and forms a basis for studying teamwork formation and -mechanics. It is an annual event, where part...

The way people learn has changed over the last years. New pedagogical theories show that engaging and active learning approaches are particularly successful in improving conceptual understanding and enhancing the students' learning success and motivation. The Motivational Active Learning approach combines engagement strategies based on active and c...

Virtual and remote laboratories have been shown as valuable tools to support learners in understanding concepts. They provide an experimentation space in a safe, remote, and flexible way. However, the missing realism and lack of hands-on experience are often pointed out as a downside. This can also be described as a missing feeling of immersion and...

Despite year-long efforts in education, studying and understanding physical phenomena still proves to be a challenge to both learners and educators. However, with the current rise of Virtual Reality experiences, interactive immersive simulations in 3D are becoming a promising tool with great potential to enhance and support traditional classroom se...

In this paper we present a design model, PTD (Player Type Design), to create engaging gaming and non-gaming experiences for attracting different types of players to learning settings. Based on Bartle’s four player types, elements grounded on game design theory are introduced to design collaborative, competitive, explorative, and rewarding learning...

Destiny is a hybrid online shooter sharing features with Massively Multi-Player Online Games and first-person shooters and is the to date the most expensive digital game produced. It has attracted millions of players to compete or collaborate within a persistent online environment. In multiplayer online games, the interaction between the players an...

The emergence of new digital tools supporting immersive and engaging learning through Virtual Reality is opening up new paths for both distance, but also classroom learning. In this article we discuss the virtual physics laboratory “Maroon” and discuss experiences with Maroon in a cost-effective mobile setup with a mobile VR experience through Sams...

A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a device that translates the users’ thoughts directly into action. Brain signal patterns used to encode messages are user specific. However, experimental paradigms used to collect neurophysiological trials from individuals are typically data-centered and not user-centered. This means that experimental paradigms a...

Location-based applications have great potential to let users explore the environment in an immersive and engaging way. Digital scavenger hunts have a great potential as teaching and instructional guiding tool. However, many tools only guide users but are not designed as meaningful and engaging experiences. Adding more story-based and exploratory p...

This paper explores the Leap Motion controller as gesture-controlled input device for computer games. We integrate gesture-based interactions into two different game setups to explore the suitability of this input device for interactive entertainment with focus on usability, user engagement, and personal motion control sensitivity, and compare it w...

The Global Game Jam® is an annual game jam event promoting on-site and collaborative game development experiences. It attracts tens of thousands of participants, called "game jammers" or "jammers", from all around the world developing games at the same weekend to the same theme. The key characteristics of this event can be described on the one hand...

The landscape of higher education is shifting as the expectations of modern students move towards increased integration of digital technology in their learning environments. As such, there is a strong need for Next Generation Digital Learning Environments (NGDLEs). Two examples of NGDLEs are Motivational Active Learning (MAL) and Task-Test-Monitor...

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Third International Conference of the Immersive Learning Network, iLRN 2017, held in Coimbra, Portugal in June 2017. The proceedings contain 17 full papers together with 4 short papers, carefully reviewed and selected from 80 submissions. This year’s special focus is “Honoring Tradition, Immerse...

Evaluating progression of players in a game can take a variety of forms, but ideally combines playstyle or performance analysis with one or more aspects of progression, e.g. through a level-or mission-based structure. Furthermore, visualization of the results of analysis are essential to ensure that action can be taken on them. In this paper behavi...