students had experience playing browser-based games, and most had been playing games for approximately four to six
years. Further, all of the students indicated that they played multiplayer online games, with action-adventure ranked as
one of the types of games most students preferred to play. Taken together, the findings pointed toward the new CRYSTAL ISLAND
learning environment being designed as an action-adventure game.
Complementing the Student Focus Group Study was a Teacher Focus Group Study. The purpose of the Teacher Focus
Group Study was to gain insight into the fifth grade teachers’ perspectives on the needs of the curriculum in the classroom,
to understand what support materials they currently used, and to understand what areas were the most challenging for students
and teachers alike. The study was conducted with classroom teachers as well as with special programs teachers and
staff. The session was recorded, and a transcript was prepared. The Teacher Focus Group was structured around the following
questions: