Game Education Summit North America

Paper Abstract:

Growing interest in educational games has produced a “magic bullet” problem: the idea that any kind of learning content can be successfully squeezed into any popular game structure. Not all games are suited to all kinds of learning; the right kind of gaming structure must be applied to specific learning content. Additionally, learning content and gaming content must not be separated or out of balance. This presentation argues that the core mechanics of a successful educational game must be adapted from the learning content: in other words, that what the player does should be what the player learns.

This presentation discusses design frameworks for educational games that avoid the magic bullet problem by adapting learning content as game mechanics. This presentation discusses two games in development as case studies: the Digital Calculus Coach, an online game that teaches calculus concepts to students at the university level; and Cold Equation, the first of numerous short games in development as part of the Center for Values in Medicine, Science, and Technology at UT Dallas. Games created as part of the Center for Values explore complex issues such as human augmentation, genetic manipulation, theories and models of creativity, and the pervasive nature of technology.