It Takes Sperm and Egg: Improving Social Interdependence by Integrating Asymmetrical Game Design into Collaborative Learning

Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) is a growing trend in education, emphasizing the importance of social interdependence for effective collaboration. Conversely, the absence of social interdependence can result in negative group dynamics. To address this, we propose an approach called asymmetrical game design, which aims to provide players with distinct abilities, information, and tasks, fostering interdependencies that require close cooperation to achieve game objectives. To examine the impact of asymmetrical game design on social interdependence in collaborative learning, we developed “It Takes Sperm and Egg,” an augmented reality game for two players, designed to educate players about human sexuality. The game utilizes physical Lego blocks and foam models to construct interactive scenes. The “sperm player” engages in a first-person perspective augmented reality (AR) game, controlling a Lego block car through the physical scene using a controller. The car's camera captures live footage relayed to a monitor, enabling the “sperm player” to view both the physical scene and augmented reality content. In contrast, the “egg player” observes the physical scene from a top-down perspective and has the sole responsibility of guiding the sperm and manipulating the AR world through actions such as removing Lego bricks, pressing buttons, and solving puzzles. The game presents unique clues to each player, necessitating effective communication and understanding to acquire knowledge and complete the game. Based on preliminary experiments and interviews, it can be concluded that this game has a positive impact on enhancing social interdependence. In summary, this study introduces the integration of asymmetrical game design into collaborative learning, providing comprehensive design guidance for cooperative educational games that can inspire further innovation and exploration in this field.