games for learning: using game play and game design to facilitate learning

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

Games for Learning: Using Game Play and Game Design to Facilitate

Learning

Dr. Wayne A. NelsonInstructional Technology Program

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose• Interactivity

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose• Interactivity• Challenge

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose• Interactivity• Challenge• Internal Value

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose• Interactivity• Challenge• Internal Value• Engagement

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Fun• Play• Willful participation• Goals• Conflict• Rules• Win & Lose• Interactivity• Challenge• Internal Value• Engagement

• A game is a problem-solving activity, approached with a playful attitude

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s in a game?

• Games have elements

Technology

Story

Aesthetics

Mechanics

Technology

Less visible

More visible

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

What’s a game?

• Games are made for players

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

How do games facilitate learning?

• Intense concentration• Distorted perception of

time• Sense of discovery• High enjoyment• Restructured

consciousness

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MihalyCsikszentmihalyi

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

How do games facilitate learning?

James Gee

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

Game design processes

• Player Research• Setting, Story, Character• Mechanics & Programming• Technology• Look & Feel• Testing & Iteration

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

Game design skills

• Animation• Anthropology• Architecture• Business• Creative Writing• Economics• Engineering• History

• Management• Math• Music• Psychology• Public Speaking• Sound Design• Technical Writing• Visual Arts

department of educational leadershipinstructional technology program

Integrating games and game design

• Game playing (e.g., Civilization, the Sims, etc.)

• Research for game design (demographics, content, setting, etc.)

• Communicating designs

• Learning by design