Unlocking Open-Player-Modeling-enhanced Game-Based Learning: The Open Player Socially Analytical Intelligence Architecture

  • Zhiyu Lin ,
  • Boyd Fox ,
  • Devon McKee ,
  • Sai Siddartha Maram ,
  • Jiahong Li ,
  • Tyler Sorensen ,
  • Brian K. Smith ,
  • Roger Azevedo ,
  • Jichen Zhu ,
  • M. S. El-Nasr

arXiv

Game-Based Learning (GBL) is a learner-engaging pedagogical methodology, yet adapting games to heterogeneous learners requires transparent, real-time Open Player Models (OPMs). We contribute to the community Open Player Socially Analytical Intelligence (OPSAI), an architecture implementing OPM beyond conceptual frameworks and validated in a GBL application. It decouples gameplay telemetry and analysis from the game engine and automatically derives pedagogically actionable insights, supporting the transparency of computational player models while making them accessible to players. OPSAI comprises three logical layers: a Frontend that both provides the GBL experience and collects information needed for analytics; a stateless Backend that hosts transparent analytics services producing reflective prompts, recommendations, and visualization guides; and a two-tier Log Storage that balances heavy raw gameplay data with lightweight reference indices for low-latency queries. By feeding analytics outputs back into the game interface, OPSAI closes the feedback loop between play and learning, empowering teachers, researchers, and learners alike. We further showcase OPSAI with a full deployment on the Parallel GBL environment, featuring live play traces, peer comparisons, and personalized suggestions, demonstrating a reusable blueprint for future educational games.