Draft 3 of Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds for Learning syllabus

Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds for Learning

Week 1: Why Games for Learning

Learning content vs. systems, projected identity, learning by/through design, theory of fun

Readings:

Optional Readings:

Activities:

  • Set up Guild Wars 2 account and guild.
  • Create a Steam account.
  • Browse the Hot List on Board Game Geek. Read reviews.
  • Introduce yourself and gaming history in the forums.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Think of a tabletop game idea that addresses an area of interest for you and write a one-paragraph pitch.

Week 2: Genres and Mechanics and Survey of Games and Learning

Definitions, categories, narrative

Readings:

Activities:

  • Meet up with someone else in Guild Wars 2 and get to level 10.
  • Explore Steam’s library.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Form into groups of 4 or 5 to work on one of the tabletop game ideas for the rest of the course, first prototype due on Week 5. Scope out theme, genre, mechanics, number of players, details, etc. for a 2-page document.

 

Week 3: Game design process

Readings:

Optional Readings:

Activities:

  • Work on tabletop game.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Go to Games for Change and select one of the games to review. Write up brief thoughts due Week 6, then a full review due Week 10.
  • Play games. Try crafting in GW2.

 

Week 4: Game design process, cont.

Readings:

Activities:

  • Work on tabletop game.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Check out Pox: Save the People, PhET, and BrainPOP.
  • Play games. Try PvP in GW2.

 

Week 5: More Topics

Computational thinking, civics, virtual worlds, the market, mods

Readings:

Activities:

  • Set up Minecraft account and join server.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Prototype tabletop game due. Publish prototypes to class site and do a write-up.
  • Write a one-paragraph pitch for a game mod or digital game.
  • Check out Steam Workshop and Skyrim Nexus
  • Play GW2 and Minecraft.

 

Week 6: Playtesting

Game user research, usability, user experience, engagement, flow, etc.

Readings:

Activities:

  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Provide feedback on game reviews.
  • Playtest tabletop games. Provide feedback.
  • Check out Legend of Grimrock and Refraction.
  • Form teams to work on one of the mod or digital game ideas for rest of course.

 

Week 7: Games Learning Society conference

Activities:

  • As prep, check out what’s happened at GLS before, especially with the Hall of Failure sessions.
  • Group notes for GLS.
  • Playtest tabletop games and scope out work to finish them.
  • Concretize vision for mod or digital game.

 

Week 8: Assessment, Gamification, and Connected Learning, Oh My!

Readings:

Activities:

  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Finish up tabletop game.
  • Work on game mod or digital game.
  • Play stuff! Chore Wars, Minecraft.

 

Week 9: Innovative Games and Learning Projects

Gaming for/as science, alternate reality games, games in schools and business

Readings:

Activities:

  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Prototype mod or digital game mockup due. Again, post files to class site and do a little write-up.
  • Play stuff! Find cool games and share!

 

Week 10: Intro to Game Studies and New Games Journalism

Ludology vs. narratology, the magic circle, etc.

Readings:

Activities:

  • Game reviews due.
  • Half the class writes reviews or synopses of readings and/or games. The other half responds.
  • Playtest mods and digital games. Provide feedback.

 

Week 11: Gaming Culture and Research

Qualitative vs. quantitative research, ecology of games, cultural production

Readings:

Activities:

  • Work on mod or digital game.
  • Play stuff!

 

Week 12: Outstanding Issues

Violence, addiction, gender, sexuality, future of learning

Readings:

Activities:

  • Post final games and mods. Play them. Provide feedback.

 

5 thoughts on “Draft 3 of Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds for Learning syllabus”

  1. Mark, this looks amazing! Two things that I think would really help C18 on this. Doesn’t have to be here, but definitely in the final syllabus:
    1. Clear descriptions of the desired projects (tabletop games, game synopses, etc). Rubrics would be especially appreciated.
    2. Could you assign dates to the weeks? I know some of us are concerned about starting class the day after we get back from China. If there’s any way to lessen the burden on that first week, it would be greatly appreciated.

    Ray Kimball, C18

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