Educational Gaming for Free Spirited Skeptics

Theory and Challenges of Pedagogical Games

May 8, 2012Elizabeth Pyatt

gaming@psu.edu

Who Am I?Elizabeth Pyatt

Instructional DesignerPenn State since 2000

Solitaire addict, just brought WiiMinesweeper, Puzzles, PacMan,

Space Invaders, Missile Command, Jeopardy

Educational Gaming Commons http://gaming.psu.edu

OutlineWhat’s a Game?

Does there have to be a winner?Potential for Learning

PBL, motivation/affect, teams…Skeptics Corner

Leading to “What to Avoid”First Steps

But first a contest

How many games will I mention? Need names plus count

There are some prizes on the line.Audience will determine accuracy of list

What’s a Game?

Favorite games (any genre)

What do they have in common?

Official CharacteristicsSet of rules/restrictions

Semi-arbitrary (e.g. no hands on the ball)

Context is “Not Real”Scoring MethodCompetition (& a “Winner”?)

Many expect there to be Sometimes you beat the computer…

or yourselfSuccessful games are “fun”

Parameters?

There’s some candy on the line…

Interesting ParametersElectronic vs. Non-ElectronicTeam vs. IndividualWhat Skills are Being Practiced?

Math, Word, Strategy, Dancing, Music Meditation, Building, Flying, Farming, Sales

Time investment Casual (short & sweet) Non-casual (lots of investment, high reward)

± Background NarrativeGames vs. Puzzles vs. Toys

How many outcomes?

Educational Possibilities

Games invoke a variety of pedagogical principles such as…

Team Playing

Group Learning World of Warcraft

Discuss strategy, plan missions Make trades Compile notes

http://www.wowwiki.com/ Practice English grammar

Econ in Outer Space A game in which students build a modern

economy from scratch post spacecraft wreck ECON 201, UNC Greensboro

Role Play

Empathy What’s it like to be another person?

“Warrior” is a common role BUT Business Administrator

Sims & ECON 102 Sims (Campus) Bucket of Beans (S. Pacific Reciprocity)

Players learn the value of “cashing in” favors StarPower

Establish an arbitrary upper class via trades This class can establish new rules

BEWARE http://www.stsintl.com/schools-charities/

star_power.html

Quests and Missions

Pot Assembly Required

PBL/Challenge Based Learning

Games are often won by solving problems AKA “Quests” or “Missions”

Educational Quests Beer Distribution Game (used in Smeal) Oregon Trail

Rare educational game that was a commercial success

Simulation Game GenresGod Game

Game in which players control parameter of universe (e.g. Sim Games)

History Sims Age of Empires Trial of Lizzie Borden (U Mass)

Science Simulations Flight Simulator, Spore

SimHealthPlayed as part of HPA 101

Leveling Up

Pac Man Maze levels

Pac Man 5D which presents a variable 3D grid. Invented by a Russian gamer.

Mastery Learning Achieve Minimal Score before moving to next

Lesson AKA complete level 1 before level 2

Scaffolding Each level introduces new element Adding a touch of difficulty adds interest

Too little is boring Too much causes gamers to quit Zone of Proximal Development

Unlocking in Games Leveling up unlocks new tools (reward)

New equation? New diagram?

Shoot To Kill

“Drill and Kill”Games encourage practice And automaticity

of skills Such as pattern

recognition But with fun

graphics & music

See alsoMath drills

More fun with tiny angry scientists?Algebra Meltdown

(http://www.mangahigh.com/en_us/games)Vocabulary and spelling

More fun as Hangman, crossword? Identification

…

Affect/Motivation

Games can add motivation to Chores (Chore Wars – competitive

chore points) Jogging (Nike Plus) – badges,

leaderboard Self-Improvement (SuperBetter)

Skeptics Corner

Games “better than reality” Aren’t we supposed to be helping

students deal with reality? YES…however

Gamers often good at tackling real world challenges and learn real world skills

Reflection can help them see how…

Just Games?What about

Active Star Trek fan communities…Or Dorothy Dunnett readers

Knitters, needlepointers, metal workers Toastmasters “Stovetop” league? Monday Morning

quarterback? …

“Gaming the System”AKA CheatingGames

Cheat codes, destroying weaker opponents

Some socially OK, others not In School

Academic Dishonesty BECAUSE…

When games are high stakes…

Survive annihilation. Win free nail polish for life?

Can we still have fun? Low Stakes vs High Stakes

Games (low stakes) + reflection (higher) Students do enjoy

Change from lecture/quiz Leader Boards (when low stakes) Games if logistics not too burdensome A certain level of goofiness or joie de vivre

Game may teach crucial skill So maybe we do require it anyway

Can we make Failure an Option?

Games teach via mistakes Because they allow resets

Gamers comfortable experimenting Can we use more “maximum

scores”? Can we give hints

Maybe with minor points deductions

Thinking Game GoalsGames can allow for:

Strategic/Systems thinking Experience as a different person Add motivation Practice of low level skills/knowledge

Games don’t Convey content (except in the

“narrative”)

Oregon Trail Goal: Teach about life on the Oregon

Trail

Life on the Oregon Trail is very hazardous, requires careful planning, and crosses a variety of terrain

Quick StartsCasual Games

Hangman/Peril/Typohttp://gaming.psu.edu

PowerPoint Templates ANGEL games (crossword/match)

Gamification Badges? Quests? Avatars?

Case Studies (gussied up)? Many avatar/graphics tools

Fun Play

Find the challenge “sweet spot” Not too easy or too difficult Challenging gun for faculty ≠ fun for

studentsAllow for goofiness

Graphics, sound effects, punsAllow for some “low stakery”

Can activities be replayed?

What do you mean “goofy”?Many use great cartoons but do we

Show warriors fleeing the scene after a mistranslation?

Simulate explosions in engineering? Turn ourselves into an avatar? Turn homework into “quests” or “missions?

Add game graphics to assignments? Allow students to earn points towards late

assignment submissions? Unlock “power” equations? Tools?

Explaining Functions w/Subs Using cash register buttons as

metaphors for algebraic functions in Math 21

Starring Deb Mirdamadi, Mont Alto Campus

Failing can be Funny

Today we learned Games can be good learning

environments Problem solving, skills practice,

collaboration Games have many facets Games in school ≠ games in the wild

But hopefully can be fun & educational Gaming does require a mental

readjustment for instructors But there are many paths to victory

Who Am I?

Pragmatrix Super Powers

Master of Learning Objective CongruenceAssessor of Pedagogical GamesExplorer of New TechnologiesQueen of “Keeping it Real”

Some References McGonigal, Jane

Reality is Broken: Why Games Make us Better.

James Paul GeeWhat Video Games Have to Teach Us about

Learning and Literacy Koster, Ralph

A Theory of Fun Bartle, Richard (player types)

Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds, Spades: Players who Suit MUDs

Contest Results

How many games did I mention? Must provide names