Steven Weitz & Mary E. Rasley - The Edugaming Framework

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Steven Weitz & Mary Rasley

The Edugaming Framework

Keeping the Quiz Out of Educational Games to Create Effective Learning Environments

sweitz@gmail.com & mrasley@lccc.edu

NSF-ATE Grants 1003154 & 1304216 - Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation

Educational games have a reputation for being terrible…… because many educational games are terrible.

But they don’t have to be!

What’s w

rong with m

any educational games?

That’s actually 2 questions…

What’s wrong with many educational games?

That’s actually 2 questions…

Why don’t games cause a deeper understanding?

1.

Why aren’t educational games engaging?

2.

They are quizzes pretending to be games

They are quizzes pretending to be games

Quizzing has a place in the classroom.

Quizzing has a place in the classroom.

Quizzing significantly detracts from games.

Quizzing has a place in the classroom.

Quizzing significantly detracts from games.

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Why don’t games cause a deeper understanding?

1.

Why aren’t educational games engaging?

2.

Why don’t games cause a deeper understanding?

1.

Why aren’t educational games engaging?

2.

Assessment is NOT learning

“Constant testing will no more address the problems with our

education system than constantly putting an

overweight person on the scale will cure obesity.”

- Anna Quindlen

Assessment is NOT learning

“Constant testing will no more address the problems with our

education system than constantly putting an

overweight person on the scale will cure obesity.”

- Anna Quindlen

Games are NOT great for fact retention

What the player does is what will be

reinforced.

All games “teach” something.

We’re trying to make games that teach something useful.

The educational content needs to be the play.

The educational content needs to be the play.pla

y play

Why don’t games cause a deeper understanding?

1.

Why aren’t educational games engaging?

2.

Why don’t games cause a deeper understanding?

1.

Why aren’t educational games engaging?

2.

It’s about Choices

Two choices…

… one right answer

“A game is a series ofinteresting choices.” – Sid Meier

Interesting choices.” – Sid Meier“A game is a series of

Interesting

Quiz =/= Engaging Game.

=/= Engaging Game.Quiz

Quiz + Luck =/= Engaging Game.

Quiz +

Luck =/= Engaging Game.?Twitch Skill

Quiz + Twitch Skill?

Quiz + Twitch Skill?

Quiz + Twitch Skill?

Quiz + Twitch Skill?

Reinforces reflexes and fast recall…

NOT understanding.

Educational games that aren’t quizzes

Easier said than done.

...

The Edugaming Framework

1) Identify the specific concept to be learned

2) Analysis: Break the concept intoits component pieces

2) Analysis: Break the concept intoits component pieces

Question:

What pieces must be present to form the concept?

Question:

• 2 is a piece• + is a piece• (- 4) is a piece• X is a piece• = is a piece

• 2 is a piece• + is a piece• (- 4) is a piece• X is a piece• = is a piece

An example:2 + (- 4) = X

GENERALIZE

• 2 is a piece• + is a piece• (- 4) is a piece• X is a piece• = is a piece

An example:2 + (- 4) = X

GENERALIZE

• is a piece

An example:2 + (- 4) = X

• is a piece

(- 4)

2• 2 and (- 4) are valuesvalues

• 2 and (- 4) are values

An example:2 + (- 4) = X

• + is a means of adjusting the values• is a piece+

An example:2 + (- 4) = X• 2 and (- 4) are values

adjusting

• + is a means of adjusting the values

• is a pieceX• is a piece

An example:2 + (- 4) = X

=

• X = the results of the adjustment

• 2 and (- 4) are values

results

• values• adjusting• results• X = the results of the adjustment

• + is a means of adjusting the values

An example:2 + (- 4) = X• 2 and (- 4) are values

results

adjusting

values

What pieces must be present to form the concept?

An example:

• values• adjusting• results

2 + (- 4) = X

3) Consider the interactions of the pieces as they relate to the concept

Back to our example…

• values• adjusting• results

2 + (- 4) = X

Back to our example…

• values• adjusting• results

2 + (- 4) = X

How do these pieces relate to each other and the topic?

• values• adjusting• results

How do these pieces relate to each other and the topic?

Values can be adjusted to achievedifferent results.

• values• adjusting• results

valuesadjustingresults

How do these pieces relate to each other and the topic?

Values can be adjusted to achievedifferent results.

Values can be adjusted to achievedifferent results.

This is the essence of the topic

4) The interactions of the component pieces become the

core gameplay via an action the player performs continuously

4) The interactions of the component pieces become the

core gameplay via an action the player performs continuously

=core gameplay

continuous action

=core gameplay continuous action=What the player will learn

continuous action=core gameplay

=What the player will learn

=The interactions of the pieces

continuous action=core gameplay

=What the player will learnThe interactions of the pieces

=

=core gameplayThe interactions of the pieces

Back to our example…2 + (- 4) = X

Values can be adjusted to achieve different results.

The interactions of the pieces

Core Gameplay

Values can be adjusted to achieve different results.

Back to our example…2 + (- 4) = X

Players manipulate values by combining numbers to achieve different results.

5) Decide what you want the User Experience (UX) will be.

6) Build the rest of the game around the core gameplay,

within the desired experience.

7) Refine the game through iterative playtesting.

Always perform a core check:

Is the educational content still the core play of the game?

Steven Weitz & Mary Rasleysweitz@gmail.com & mrasley@lccc.edu

NSF-ATE Grants 1003154 & 1304216 - Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation

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