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Steven Weitz & Mary Rasley
The Edugaming Framework
Keeping the Quiz Out of Educational Games to Create Effective Learning Environments
[email protected] & [email protected] Carbon Community College
Pennsylvania
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!
Wh
at’s
wro
ng
with
man
y e
du
catio
nal g
am
es?
That question is actually 2 questions…
What’s wrong with many educational games?
That question is 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.
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 reinforce
2) Analysis: Break the concept intoits component parts
An example:
• 2 is a piece
• + is a piece
• (- 4) is a piece
• X is a piece
• = is a piece
2 + (- 4) = X
3) Consider the essence of the knowledge those components represent.
Back to our example…
• 2 is a starting point
• + is how to alter that starting point
• (- 4) is how much to alter it by
• X is the end result
2 + (- 4) = X
This is about manipulating numbers
4) The essence becomes the core gameplay using the relationship of the components.
Back to our example…
• Components: Numbers, Combinations, Results
• Essence: Manipulation
• Core Gameplay: Acquiring and manipulating
numbers to reach a goal.
2 + (- 4) = X
5) Determine what 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 [email protected] & [email protected]
Lehigh Carbon Community CollegePennsylvania
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
