Virtual Project-Based Simulation Games: Effectiveness in Construction Education of Different Genders

Fatemeh Pariafsai¹

1) Young Researchers and Elite Club, Yadegar-e-Imam Khomeini (RAH) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Email:

IOI Code : XYFG-BBGZD
Publication : 4th International Conference on Modern Research in Civil Engineering, Architectural & Urban Development (4cauconf.com)
Abstract :
    This paper reports on the results of testing a virtual project-based simulation game, called Skyscraper Simulator, in construction education. The results point to some interesting findings about different perceptions of learning gains between male and female participants. Skyscraper Simulator puts the players in a virtual construction environment and directs them from the beginning of building a skyscraper to the end. In this research study, the quantitative methods are used to measure the perception of construction learning gain. A retrospective pre and post playing perception of six main areas of construction knowledge, ability, and skills was used in a pilot test with 135 undergraduate construction students including 69 males and 66 females. The results indicate that there is a significant difference between the perception of participants in pre- and post- playing content knowledge, ability, and skills for all of the six construction main areas. Moreover, in 21 of 24 subareas, the difference between pre and post scores for female participants is higher than those of their male counterparts, which indicates that a virtual project-based simulation game like Skyscraper simulator is an effective tool for construction education at the undergraduate level, especially for female students.

Keywords : construction education gender project based simulation