Taking it to the next interface level: Advancing game design for higher education STEM applications

Despite the demand for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) professionals and their role in driving innovation and economic growth, literature consistently reports that less than forty percent of students in the United States starting out in a STEM college program complete their degree. One way to increase the pipeline of STEM professionals in the near-term is to increase the retention rates of students pursuing STEM degree programs. It is well-established that a key component of achievement in STEM-related curricula at every level (elementary, secondary, or post-secondary) is the student´s degree of engagement with the subject matter. This work details the development of a game platform that integrates undergraduate STEM content in a compelling and holistic fashion in which users can navigate the environment using natural gestures. Recognizing that the inclusion of games in educational contexts is a broad area of ongoing study, the authors confine the scope of this project to the development of advanced game systems for higher education STEM applications.