Abstract:
"The special education domain caters to a multitude of individuals with varying mental and
physical challenges. Individuals affected by Trisomy 21 fall under the same umbrella as
individuals requiring special education. This genetic disorder is commonly referred to as Down
syndrome (DS), which is a result of an extra chromosome in an individuals’ DNA and can
cause developmental and cognitive challenges all throughout their lives. The conventional
methods of educating children in third world countries, with the inclusion of Sri Lanka, shows
signs of disparity towards individuals with special needs. Children affected by Trisomy 21 falls
victim to the lack of tailored educational approaches.
Respective medical data shows that higher Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) levels in the
brain of an individual affected by Trisomy 21 reduces neuroplasticity, which also reduces the
effectiveness of learning resources provided to them. Medical data also indicate that certain
game genres increase the levels of dopamine in the brains of these individuals which result in
lower GABA levels for a brief period of time. Furthermore, it has been identified that
individuals affected by Trisomy 21 are strong visual learners, hence the proposed solution by
the author comes in the form of a serious game, which not only caters to the visual learning
preferences of these individuals but also aims to reduce the GABA levels in the brain to
effectively provide learning resources.
The serious game: ‘Bright Horizons,’ uses a procedurally generated approach to the level
design, resulting in a unique experience for the individual each playthrough, to ensure the
highest possibility of engagement. Furthermore, a regression model will be used to calculate
the ideal activity engagement time based off acquired medical data containing gene expression
change values. Learning resources such as numbers, letters and colors will be saturated
throughout the gameplay loop so that the individuals in consideration can actively learn while
being engaged in the gameplay."
