Learning games - and gamification of learning - are hot trends. What does it REALLY take to produce a learning game, and how do you produce a good one? This presentation outlines 6 lessons learned with links to games that offer examples for the lessons learned.

1. Digital Learning Game Design
Lessons from the Trenches
Presented
by
Sharon
Boller
&
Kristen
Hewe2
Bo#om-­‐Line
Performance,
Inc.

2. What do we even MEAN by game?
An
ac4vity
that
has
an
explicit
goal
or
challenge,
rules
that
guide
achievement
of
the
goal,
interac6vity
with
either
other
players
or
the
game
environment
(or
both),
and
feedback
mechanisms
that
give
clear
cues
as
to
how
well
or
poorly
you
are
performing.
It
results
in
a
quan6fiable
outcome
(you
win/
you
lose,
you
hit
the
target,
etc).
Usually
generates
an
emo6onal
reac6on
in
players.

3. Goals
for
Today
Learning
Game
Design
Process
6
Lessons:
Best
Prac4ces;
PiMalls
to
Avoid
Tools
&
Templates
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

4. Learning Game Design Process
Play
games;
evaluate
what
you
are
playing
Get
familiar
w/
game
elements
&
how
to
use
them.
Think
about
the
learning
–
and
then
the
game.
Dump
ADDIE.
Go
agile
instead.
Playtest.Playtest.
Did
I
say
playtest?

5. Let’s Play Games (and Evaluate)!
Use
Handout
Page
5
to
do
your
evalua4on
of
these
games
as
we
play.

6. Think About Learning FIRST
Game Topic
Who’s the target audience? (incl. characteristics)
The INSTRUCTIONAL goal is:
The LEARNING objectives are:
Key content to include

7. Then Consider the Game
Game Goal
Core Dynamic(s)?
Game Mechanics (aka “rules”)
Game Elements
• Theme
• Story
• Cooperation
• Competition
• Etc.
• Strategy
• Chance
• Aesthetics
• Resources

8. Dump ADDIE; go agile instead (iterative)
Playtest.
Playtest.
Did
I
say
playtest?

10. Learning
Game
Design
Process
6
Lessons:
Best
Prac4ces;
PiMalls
to
Avoid
Tools
&
Templates
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

11. 3 Guiding Principles
1.
Play and evaluate lots of digital games
before you starting designing your first one.
2.
Pay attention to how different core dynamics
and different game mechanics affect the
game play and the learning experience.
3.
PLAYTEST! Many, many times… and with
the right audience. Expect lots of fixes each
time.
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

12. 6 Lessons
1.
You
need
game
content–
even
at
the
first
prototype.
2.
Aesthe6cs
and
theme
drama4cally
affect
desire
to
play.
3.
Fantasy
has
high
appeal
–
even
to
“corporate”
learners.
4.
Players
need
help
figuring
out
how
to
play
–
but
typically
won’t
opt
for
it.
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

13. 6 Lessons
5.
Keep
rule
and
game
complexity
propor6onal
to
the
amount
of
4me
people
will
play
the
game.
6.
Scoring
is
hardest
element
to
get
right
–
keep
trying
un4l
you
do.
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

14. 1
Game
content
is
needed
–
even
in
the
first
prototype.
– h#p://
theknowledgeguru.com/
c2_examples/GGB/
storyShuffle/
– h#p://
theknowledgeguru.com/
GameBuilder/
LateForLunch/
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

15. Aesthe6cs
and
theme
2
affect
desire
to
play.
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

16. From
Ho-­‐Hum

17. To
Pre2y
Fun
h#p://www.theknowledgeguru.com/gamedesign/

18. To
Pre2y
Fun

19. To
Pre2y
Fun

20. 3
Don’t
dismiss
fantasy.
It
engages
people
a
lot.
They
can
learn
even
if
the
theme
doesn’t
mirror
reality.
http://theknowledgeguru.com/c2_examples/GGB/MakingGold_v96/
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

21. Players
need
help
figuring
out
4
how
to
play
so
build
help
in
via
levels,
resources,
and
tutorials.
Early
prototype
–
no
tutorial
Later
itera4on
–
tutorial,
guided
play
www.bo#omlineperformance.com
h#p://www.theknowledgeguru.com/GameBuilder/Elevator/

22. 5
Make
complexity
propor4onal
to
expected
playing
4me.
Cogni6ve
overload
is
real.
www.bo#omlineperformance.com
6
Scoring
is
hardest
element
to
get
right.
Cri6cal
for
player
engagement.
Takes
hours
–
and
mul4ple
playtests
-­‐
to
plan
out
and
do
well.

23. Scoring Algorithm FTM

24. Learning
Game
Design
Process
6
Lessons:
Best
Prac4ces;
PiMalls
to
Avoid
Tools
&
Template
s
www.bo#omlineperformance.com

25. Tools & Templates
• Primer
on
Play
(p.
1)
– Terms
and
defini4ons
– Core
Dynamics
–
descrip4ons
of
common
ones
– Game
Elements
and
?s
to
ask
when
considering
whether
to
include/exclude
from
a
game
•
•
•
•
Game
Evalua4on
Worksheet
(p.
5)
Learning
Game
Design
Checklist
(pp.
7-­‐10)
Learning
Game
Design
Template
(Slides
6-­‐7)
Playtest
field
guide
(p.
11)

26. Learning
Game
Design
Process
www.bo#omlineperformance.com
6
Lessons:
Best
Prac4ces;
PiMalls
to
Avoid
???
Tools
&
Templates

27. Thank You
•
•
•
•
sharon@bo#omlineperformance.com
www.bo#omlineperformance.com/lolblog
Twi2er:
@sharon_boller
(317)
861-­‐5935
–
office
• kristen@bo#omlineperformance.com
• Twi2er:
@KristenNHewe#
• (317)
514-­‐1860
-­‐
office
www.bo#omlineperformance.com