Learning games are a hot trend—but why? What makes them work, and how in the world do you go about designing one?

In this workshop, you will explore a variety of games to identify what makes them playable, and then you’ll design your own learning games using a step-by-step approach. You will build a prototype of your game and actually play it—learning how to play test and how to iterate to improve the game’s playability and efficacy as a learning tool. You will leave the workshop with a coherent road map to help you design future games (whether those are online or table-top games). You will also take with you a list of resources to help you further your learning and skill development as a game designer.

In this session, you will learn:

• How to use an evaluation checklist to assess a wide array of games for the quality and effectiveness of your game design and your potential applicability to a learning game design
• How to recognize and define 15 common game elements and 10 common game dynamics in the development of learning games
• How to create simple prototypes for learning games
• How to use a play testing process to do rapid iteration of a game design

Audience:
Novice to advanced designers, developers, and anyone else who wants to learn how to incorporate effective games into their learning initiatives.

Participant technology requirements:
Participants should bring a laptop or tablet. If participants are unable to bring a device, there will be an opportunity to share and work in teams.