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DLS Virtual Poster Presentation: Epidemics and Hunger Games: Collaborating to Gamify Information Literacy...and Maybe Save the World: Scenario-Based Learning Games

Creating Scenario Based Learning Games

Earth Elements clip artElements of Scenario-Based Learning Games

 

 

  • Objective - What do you have to do to win/finish?

 

  • Strategy - How will you meet the objective?

 

  • Challenges/Obstacles - What is keeping you from the objective and/or challenging the strategy?

 

  • Adjust strategy and apply - How will you overcome the challenges to meet the objective?

Principles of Scenario-Based Learning Games

 

 

  • Identity- Assuming a role allows a student to be more immersed in the game and learning experience.

  • Interaction/feedback - Feedback lets students know how well they are progressing towards the objective.

  • Risk taking - Let students explore and try different strategies with a low consequence for failure.

  • Customizable - Getting to the objective shouldn't be a one size fits all. Allow students to problem solve in different ways, and determine that there may be several ways to meet the objective.

  • Agency - Give students control over what they do. Allow them to make decisions about how to approach the problem or meet the objective.

  • Well ordered problems - Challenges should be scaffolded and should slowly increase in difficulty.

  • Challenge & Consolidation - Students should have the opportunity to repeat skills until they become almost second nature.

  • Just in time and on-demand - Provide students with help as needed.

  • Situated meaning - Use contextualized terminology/jargon, so students learn the words as they relate to the discipline or situation.

  • Pleasantry frustrating - The game should be doable but challenging.

  • Performance before competence - Students can learn by doing to reach competence.

Adapted from:

 

Gee, J. P. (2005). Good video games and good learning." Phi Kappa Phi Forum, vol. 85, no. 2, 2005, p. 33+.

Process of Creating a Learning Game

  1. Write learning (game) outcomes and objectives.
  2. Develop the story or scenario. Be creative!
  3. Flush out the game mechanics. What type of game will it be? Will it require the creator to have high tech skills to build a computer simulation? Maybe mid-range tech skills are needed to create a game based on branching. Maybe low-tech skills are all your have, in that case google forms can work well.
  4. Determine the rules/limitations.
  5. Add challenges & feedback.
  6. Build a prototype & test.
  7. Assess learning & enjoyment; revise as needed. 

Your turn! Use this template to plan your own learning game.

Adapted from:

Walsh, Andrew. Innovative pedagogies series: Game-based learning and IT literacy. 2015.

https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/andrew_walsh_report.pdf