Keywords: games for learning, game design, serious games, simulations, multimedia learning, virtual reality, augmented reality

Educational Technology 0858-611

Instructor: Matthew X. Curinga

Class sessions

Campus: Adelphi Manhattan Center Meeting time: Wednesday, 6:30-8:20 Location: Room 252

adelphi au in super mario world

Description

Video games have become an increasingly important source of culture and entertainment in our society. They are more popular than Hollywood movies, yet receive a fraction of the attention, especially in academia. In recent years, this has been changing, as scholars have begun to interrogate games from many levels: design, critique, and as a means of learning. In this course, we really have 3 separate, but overlapping goals: 1) to understand video games as a social and cultural phenomenon, especially important to youth culture; 2) to think of ways to teach about video games, as part of a (digital) literacy perspective; and 3) to investigate ways to teach with games, both off the shelf and ones that we design ourselves.

Goals

The course has two main goals. Firstly, it introduces students to a range of game genres that have been popular in education. Secondly, it covers a range of learning principles, research topics, controversies, and potential applications for video games and simulations in education, and gives students the foundations for applying both analog and digital games in educational contexts.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Understand major topics in educational games and simulations
  • Situate video games and learning in its historical manifestations - military exercises, simulations, game theory, board games and digital (video) games
  • Understand the difference between exogenous and endogenous games, and design a simple endogenous game that can be used to teach a specific topic
  • Understand the key differences between popular game genres
  • Analyze and reflect on the potential of existing games and their potential in educational contexts

Course Readings

There are no required books to purchase for this class. All readings and videos are available through the course website.

Arnseth, H. C. (2006). Learning to play or playing to learn: A critical account of the models of communication informing educational research on computer gameplay. Game Studies, 6(1), 1–11.

Becker, K. (2011). The magic bullet: A tool for assessing and evaluating learning potential in games. International Journal of Game-Based Learning (IJGBL), 1(1), 19–31.

Caillois, R. (1961). The definition of play. The Game Design Reader: A Rules of Play Anthology, 123–128.

Duke, R. D. (1974). Gaming: The Future’s Language. Sage Publications.

Foster, A., Mishra, P., & Koehler, M. (2011). Digital game analysis: Using the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge framework to determine the affordances of a game for learning. Learning to Play: Exploring the Future of Education with Video Games. New York: Peter Lang Publications.

Fullerton, T. (2019). Game design workshop: A playcentric approach to creating innovative games. AK Peters/CRC Press.

Gee, J. P. (2007). What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and Literacy. St. Martin’s Griffin.

Huizinga, J. (2014). Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture phone. Martino Fine Books.

Salen, K., Tekinbaş, K. S., & Zimmerman, E. (2004). Rules of play: Game design fundamentals. MIT press.

Selwyn, N. (2013). Distrusting ‘Games’ Technologies in Education. In Distrusting Educational Technology (pp. 96–116). Routledge.

Squire, K. (2006). From content to context: Videogames as designed experience. Educational Researcher, 35(8), 19–29.

Squire, K., & Jenkins, H. (2011). Video games and learning: Teaching and participatory culture in the digital age. Teachers College Press.

Zubek, R. (2020). Elements of game design. The MIT Press.

Session Date Topic
1 Sep 01 Intro
2 Sep 08 Play I
3 Sep 15 Learning I
4 Sep 22 Design I
5 Sep 29 Deep play I
6 Oct 06 Design II
7 Oct 13 Learning II
8 Oct 20 Prototyping
9 Oct 27 Analysis I
10 Nov 03 Play test I
11 Nov 10 Analysis II
12 Nov 17 Deep play II
- Nov 24 Thanksgiving Break
13 Dec 01 Functionality
14 Dec 08 Play test 2
15 Dec 15 Finals week: design doc due

Assignments & Grading

due dates and grading

assignment due pct
Game study post 1 Sep 29 6%
Game study post 2 Oct 20 7%
Game study post 3 Nov 17 7%
Game Analysis Nov 23 40%
Game Design Dec 15 40%

Game study posts (20 points)

One of our goals for this course is to turn a critical eye towards games so that we can gain a better understanding of how they work, when they work, and what their possibilities are. This skill helps us to design our own game/play activities, to understand how to incorporate game for teaching, and to appreciate the role that games play in our society.

For this assignment, write 3 posts in the “Game Studies” forum on our class website. Before you post, play a game for at least an hour. Write a 500 word post on the forum (as a new topic, with its own title). The post should not be a book report! Do not recap the entire game. Do not summarize the rules. Do have a specific, interesting point that you want to make. You might describe a game play experience in detail and then discuss it. You might look at a specific mechanic. You may consider how the game can work for teaching and learning. Mostly, you want to try hard to make your post something that we all want to read and that offers new knowledge to the class. Some examples might be: “One night ultimate werewolf: why lying is so much fun,” “Animal Crossing and Pandemic Boredom,” or “Valorant defusing strategies when you’re the last player.”

Your post should offer a brief description of the game (with links as needed) before you move to your thesis. You should draw on the techniques and theories in our readings to bolster your argument. Discuss how the game “works” (mechanics, rules, components, user experience, art); where it fits in the field (is it groundbreaking? does it draw on and improve other games? is it a rip off of a better game?); and any critical analysis of the game (who is the expected “audience” of the game? does the game trade in stereotypes?). As needed, use photos, screenshots, videos, etc to illustrate your points.

Forum rules:

  1. Post 3 times, once between weeks 1-4, once 5-8, and the final one between 9-12.
  2. Any type of game can work. Consider mixing up the types/genres for your posts.
  3. Read every post. Comment liberally. Don’t just say, “I really like what you wrote.”
  • excellent (6-7 points): post is unique and interesting, it’s well written and edited, arguments show reflection and integration of the course discussions and readings, discussion is supported logically and by close examples from the game.
  • good (4-5 points): meets all of the criteria as above, but may have minor flaws in editing or supporting arguments.
  • satisfactory (3 points): either the writing and examples are not clear enough to fully support the argument, or the arguments don’t reflect the course readings or exhibit other clear flaws
  • poor (0-2 points): the post fails to meet the basic criteria for the assignment

Game for learning analysis video (40 points)

Commercial games can have great potential for classroom teaching, even if they were not designed specifically for that purpose. For this assignment, you will gain extensive familiarity with a game in order to analyze its potential for use in the classroom. You may choose an analog game (e.g. chess, Settlers of Catan, Pandemic, Wingspan) or digital game (e.g. Minecraft, Civilization, Valorant, Animal Crossing) for your analysis.

Your analysis will take the form of a video where you consider the structure of the game and its suitability for teaching and learning. In terms of structure, refer to our course readings and your own research to analyze aspects such as game mechanics, player experience, etc. When you discuss the potential for learning, consider the classroom context where it can be effective, how it aligns with learning goals, and any modifications that you would have to make to the game structure to adapt it for classroom use.

Your video should include images or video of the game to illustrate your key points. In your narration, please make specific references to the readings you are referencing (include direct quotes if needed). You should have a list of references at the end of your video and submitted as notes with your assignment. You can check out samples of video game reviews on the Internet. For example, see The Last of Us, What Remains of Edith Finch (note: Your review will not have to be that long!). Your analysis should be well-edited and narrated, and run for 4-5 minutes.

The grade for your analysis will consider:

  • 5 points: production quality of the video
  • 10 points: analysis of mechanics
  • 10 points: analysis of user experience/social connections
  • 10 points: analysis of learning sciences/games for learning principles
  • 5 points: instructional design of possible teaching implementation

Game design (40 points)

The third major grade will come from a game that you will design, either on your own or with a partner. This game can be analog (e.g., board game, card game, physical game, etc.) or digital games. It must have an educational component to it and it should encompass some of the aspects of game design that we will discuss. For the purposes of this assignment, I am more interested in the process you go through in designing this game than the final product. This process will include two play-testing sessions during our in-person classes, during which you will let your classmates test out the game, give you feedback, and use that feedback for further revisions. Your final product will also be evaluated on 1) how educational it is; 2) how clear the rules and guidelines are; 3) how well it incorporates good design principles and 4) how well you present it. We will be using various techniques for rapid prototyping and testing, whether creating a digital or analog game. By the end of the term, you must have a playable prototype that has gone through several iterations.

During the first half of the semester we will look at two technologies that can be used to teach game design and technology skills to students: Scratch and Twine. Scratch is a drag-and-drop block based programming language that is often used as a first introduction to computer programming, often by having students create simple arcade style games. Twine is a platform for creating “interactive fiction,” and can create game-like experiences with little or no programming. (We can discuss if IF are games or not, but for this assignment interactive fiction will count as a game.) If you choose to use Scratch or Twine for this project, you will be able to create a working, digital prototype of your game. You are, however, allowed to design a digital game without writing any code. For example, you could design a virtual reality game or augmented reality game which we will test only through role playing and paper prototypes.

Your game design document will be scored:

  • 10 points: educational purpose and foundation
  • 5 points: play test 1
  • 5 points: play test 2
  • 10 points: game design (rules, mechanics, components, art, etc)
  • 5 points: implementation
  • 5 points: reflection

University Policies and Resources

Student Access Office and Disability Accommodation

If you have a disability that may significantly impact your ability to carry out assigned coursework, please contact the Student Access Office (SAO) at 516-877-3806 or send an email to sao@adelphi.edu. The staff will review your concerns and determine, with you, appropriate and necessary accommodations.

Please note that reasonable accommodations are also available for courses conducted through an online learning format. Due to the nature of online courses, some accommodations approved for in-person classes may not apply. Please allow for a reasonable time frame for requesting ASL Interpreters or Transcription Services.

Student Counseling Center (SCC)

The Student Counseling Center (SCC) provides confidential and professional virtual mental health counseling services, resources, and referrals to support the academic and personal success, health, and well-being of Adelphi students without additional charge. Especially with the additional stress resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, students are encouraged to seek support from the SCC when needed. Counselors are available to help students cope with a variety of stressors and personal issues that may interfere with their academic and personal experiences. The Center also supports students who may be feeling suicidal or in crisis. To schedule an appointment, please call (516) 877-3646, email scc@adelphi.edu. If you need immediate assistance, walk-in services are available during the fall and spring semesters Monday-Friday 9am-5:00pm. Additional information can also be found by visiting https://scc.adelphi.edu.

Need support when the SCC is not available? For 24/7 emergency counseling, referral, or assistance, please contact:
Long Island Crisis Center (516) 679-1111
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255)
Crisis Text Line: Text PAWS to 741741
Adelphi Office of Public Safety:
Off campus: (516) 877-3511
On campus: Extension 5 on any campus phone
911 (for immediate health-related emergency)

The Center for Academic Support and Enrichment (CASE; formerly The Learning and Writing Centers)

CASE programs and services--like individual tutoring in writing and subjects across the curriculum, small group study sessions, academic coaching, and targeted workshops--help students explore, deepen, and extend their classroom learning. Support programming focuses on establishing foundational skills and techniques of studentship, like time management and note-taking. Enrichment services develop higher-order critical thinking skills and problem solving skills inherent in both abstractions and applications of curricular study.

Contact us as CASE@adelphi.edu (or Learningcenter@adelphi.edu), at ext. 3200, or via our eCampus tab, to review our full slate of real-time (in person and remote) and asynchronous services. These are included in your tuition so you've already bought them! Don't miss out on the opportunity to supercharge your college experience! Many services require reservations, especially late in the semester. Reserve a spot on our scheduling portal, and/or join the self-directed virtual CASE LAB. Get on the CASE, and take your Adelphi experience to the next level.

The Adelphi Honor Code

The University is an academic community devoted to the pursuit of knowledge. Fundamental to this pursuit is academic integrity. In joining the Adelphi community I accept the University’s Statement of Academic Integrity and pledge to uphold the principles of honesty and civility embodied in it. I will conduct myself in accordance with ideals of truth and honesty and I will forthrightly oppose actions which would violate these ideals.

Code of Academic Honesty

The Code of Academic Honesty prohibits behavior that can broadly be described as lying, cheating, or stealing. Violations of the Code of Academic Honesty will include, but not be limited to, the following:

  1. Fabricating data or citations
  2. Collaborating in areas not approved by the professor
  3. Unauthorized multiple submission of one’s own work
  4. Sabotage of others’ work, including library vandalism or manipulation
  5. Plagiarism
  6. The creation of unfair advantage
  7. The facilitation of dishonesty
  8. Tampering with or falsifying records
  9. Cheating
  10. Other forms of academic dishonesty

Copying and pasting from any source into your assignments or exams without quotation marks, citations and references, constitutes plagiarism. Students are expected to produce and submit original work and to cite all sources appropriately. Unauthorized collaboration on any work, or the presentation of someone else’s work as your own, is plagiarism. Content generated by an Artificial Intelligence third-party service or site (AI- generated content, e.g. ChatGPT) without attribution or authorization is also a form of plagiarism. Unless explicitly stated, artificial intelligence-based technologies, such as ChatGPT or word mixing software, cannot be used to generate responses (partial or otherwise) for student assignments or exams.

If you are unsure about what plagiarism or another form of academic dishonesty are, please reach out to me to discuss it as soon as possible. An allegation of an academic integrity violation of this section may be referred for further review and could result in disciplinary action. https://www.adelphi.edu/conduct/academic-dishonesty.

Diversity statement

We value human dignity and diversity in all forms, embrace our differences, and honor all voices. We understand the collective power inherent in fully inclusive communities where each may meet their full potential to contribute.

Student Course Evaluations

During the last two weeks of the class, you will receive notification, via email and eCampus, that the course evaluation is available for your input electronically. Your feedback is valuable and students are strongly encouraged to respond. Please be assured that your responses are anonymous and the results will not be available to the instructor until after course grades have been submitted after the semester ends.

Religious observance policy

Adelphi University welcomes diversity in its community, and respects various religious observances. Students who anticipate being absent, due to their religious observance, are required by Adelphi University to notify their professors at the start of the semester. This will allow the faculty to take these observances into consideration in light of their course exam and assignment schedules. Students absent from class, clinical experiences, practice, labs, etc. on those days, after prior notice to the professor, will not be penalized for any exam or assignment deadline missed because of those absences. Students must contact the instructor to work out suitable arrangements for make-ups or other satisfaction of academic requirements. adelphi university
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Learning with games was created by: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Based on a work at https://github.com/mcuringa/adelphi-ed-tech-courses.

Last modified: Tuesday, 29. August 2023 02:19PM