Developing Educational Games - Otto von Guericke ...stellmac/download/educationGames3.pdf · Developing Educational Games 18 Summary educational games are still games – similar

Sophie Stellmach, June 16th 2006

Developing Educational Games 1

Developing Educational Games

Serious Games SeminarOtto-von-Guericke-University, Magdeburg

Sophie StellmachJune 16th, 2006



Overview

1. Introduction

2. Working with educators

3. Design issues

4. Differences to retail games

5. Summary

6. Example



“Learning always takes place in well-constructed games.“

James Paul Gee

Introduction

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Introduction

Michael Zyda (2005) “From Visual Simulation to Virtual Reality to Games“. IEEE Computer Society

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Introduction

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example

Bethke, E. (2003). Game Development and Production. Wordware Publishing, Inc.: Plano.



Considerations

● different learning styles

● undeveloped area

● public distrust in educational games

● developers have to understand the medium

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Acceptance

Significant for acceptance● assessment of learning● cost per student● potential uses

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Working with educators

● educators– provide ideas for new techniques and applications

– contribute their expertise

● game developers can help teachers– to evolve and improve their teaching methods

– to bring benefits of automation and information technology into the classroom

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Working with educators

● focus on– learning goals

– how to achieve them

– evaluation

● requires good communication between developers and educators!

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Concerns of teachers

● "Games will keep us [teachers] too busy!"

● "Games are a threat to our jobs!"

● "Games are teaching immoral behavior!"

● "Games can teach the wrong lessons!"

● "Will they work on our school computers?"

● "What will other teachers and parents think?"

● "I don't know how to use it!"

● "It means more work for us!"

● ...

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Reasons for concerns

● general distrust towards mass media

● unwillingness to experiment

● biased press

● misapprehensions

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



What do teachers demand?

● little work to adapt for classes

● „simple“ games

● maintain accuracy

● support homework

● assurance of security

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



● different criteria from C. Aldrich and C. Abt (in detail in my report)

● roughly summarized:– unrestricted options– clear consequences – repeatability– motivation– realism

Design issues

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Motivation

Combining fun and learning

● game should promote– fun– higher-order thinking skills (i.e. team-work)

● serious games can – stimulate interest and excitement -> motivate!

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



● accurate simulation

– assumptions must be made

– careful determination of rules

– otherwise: wrong rules and dependencies could be taught

– sources for wrong assumptions: cultural taboos, blind spots and technical restrictions

Realism

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Differences to retail games

● target market

– less modern equipment– variety of hardware

● accessibility for non-gamers

● testing and assessment of learning

● working with educators

● integration into education process

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Differences to retail games

● avoiding simulation shortcuts– randomness

– time compression

– process simplification

– headache removal– perfect communication

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Summary

● educational games are still games– similar development process

– essential factor: pedagogy

● collaboration with educators important

● various criteria for a good educational game

● differences to retail games

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example



Example for educational game

Nintendo: Brain Age

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example

http : //www.mygamer.com/games_images/551938SquallSnake7.jpg



Nintendo: Brain Age

1. Introduction


3. Design issues

4. Differences

5. Summary

6. Example

http : //nintendods.gaming-universe.de/screens/boxart_eur_brain-training.jpg



References

Book

● Michael, D.&Chen, S.(2006). Serious Games: Games That Educate, Train and Inform. Thomson Course Technology: Boston.

● Bethke, E. (2003). Game Development and Production. Wordware Publishing, Inc.: Plano.

Links

● http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060322/dillon_01.html

● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serious_game

● ... (look in the report)

Pictures

● http : //nintendods.gaming-universe.de/screens/boxart_eur_brain-training.jpg

● http : //www.mygamer.com/games_images/551938SquallSnake7.jpg

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060322/dillon_01.html



That isn't all – but I don't have more time ;)

For further information just ask me or / and read my report :)

Thank you for your attention!



Questions?

Do you have any questions?

Documents

Developing Educational Games - Otto von Guericke ...stellmac/download/educationGames3.pdf · Developing Educational Games 18 Summary educational games are still games – similar