Players and Builders: Digital Games and University Learning

Players and Builders: Digital Games and University Learning.

Jon Saklofske Department of English and Theatre Acadia University Email: jon.saklofske@acadiau.ca Homepage: http://socrates.acadiau.ca/courses/engl/saklofske

Infographic developed by Melissa Terras and @4Hum

Image from: http://mahindrahumanities.fas.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/Digital Humanities.JPG

Image from : http://writeaboutnowjt.wordpress.com/2011/05/24/divine-wright/

Image created by: Jon Saklofske

http://www2.macleans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/video-game-kid.jpg

From: http://www.well-rendered.com/2010/06/video-game-taxonomy.html

From: http://blogs.aftrs.edu.au/screenculture/?p=229

From: http://blogs.aftrs.edu.au/screenculture/?p=229

The Natural Daughter Game Found at: (http://moo.acadiau.ca:7000)

Register as 2386 student user, then log in and move North to start game…

Game editor found at: http://moo.acadiau.ca:7001 (email jon.saklofske@acadiau.ca for builder access.)

Multiple-media literacy …leading to a greater awareness of more traditional forms and functions …transmedia awareness/ability

Beyond the essay …as a way to gain a new perspective on the essay form …increasing the scope of your productive/creative academic energies

Non-linear narrative

Narrative as rhetorical argumentation

Collaboration / collective intelligence

Games: …play , presence, performance, process and narrative

Players Builders …interactive critical response

Image from: http://thebookartblog.blogspot.ca/2010/05/what-is-book-art.html

I consider players to be agents of change. Often, a player's use and understanding of mechanics can lead to stories we didn't know were there.

-Chris Avellone (Obsidian Games)

"I think a beginning, a middle and an end are fundamental to any story you want to tell. The non-linearity of open-world games arises from the way in which you explore the plot, turning the player into a sort of editor, who 'assembles' parts of the story. “ -Christian Cantamessa

(lead designer and co-writer, Red Dead Redemption)

Key Concepts of Experimental Learning (From Lewis and Williams’ “Best Practice in Experimental Learning)

• learn by doing • not compartmentalized • student run learning • provides skills to transition into workplace (3) • REFLECTION!! • problem solving throughout entire process • instructor as member of the group (10) • instructor as a resource, cheerleader and

facilitator (11) • Assessment of students as more than just

outcome (13) • student involved assessment (16)

ARIS app and content creator for mobile AR gamespaces

Locative, technology-enhanced gaming at Walt Disney World

Taking game-based learning beyond the classroom