Final Project Fun–Week 10

Matera suggests that we “embrace the freedoms within playful planning and put no anchors on the possibilities that take shape” when developing gamification in our classes (2013, loc. 1001).  Matera makes the process sound so fun and I want the process to be fun. Let’s make this project useful, worthwhile and fun–or at least not painful.

Let’s consider Matera’s explorer theme. Instead of a rubric, let’s have a treasure map. Let’s use Matera’s routes (see chapters 6-9) instead of columns and rows. Let me be a renegade pirate teacher looking for places to incorporate (or hide) my gamified treasure in my island classroom. I’m excited about gamification, I want to incorporate gamification in my classroom. I’m a teacher with years of experience. The elements of the rubric are important, but rubrics aren’t fun. Let me create my own path and I’ll have something worthwhile that I can and will use.

If we do use the rubric in some rendition of its current form I have concerns about trying to focus on too many elements and being detailed where I need to be flexible.

After (my rather tangential) reading this week, I’ve been pondering the importance of stories in games and presentations. Duarte asserted, “stories are the most powerful delivery tool for information, more powerful and enduring than any other art form” (2010, p. 16). Stories stick with us, that’s why games need stories, context and themes. This applies to our rubric as some elements may be more important than others and may need to be considered first. Matera’s first route focuses on the story elements and of course the learning objectives are paramount.

Currently, for my own plan, I have a clear purpose and learning objectives, I’ll need to develop a storyline, and add some mechanics  and mini-games so that students are engaged. I’m not sure how to articulate my ideas surrounding feedback, risk-taking and skill mastery, but feedback and skill-mastery are inherent to how I teach, not necessarily gamification.

	Needs improvement	Meets
1. Clear purpose that correlates with multiple learning objectives standards pertaining to coursework (20)	The game does not relate more than superficially to the objectives or goals.	The game correlates with multiple learning objectives, requiring only basic understanding of required skills.	The game requires deep understanding of multiple learning objectives and provides opportunities to demonstrate higher level thinking.
2. Narrative Context/Storyline (20)	Storyline is basic and does not “thread through” all of the game play.	The context or storyline is apparent and continues throughout the game but there are limited opportunities to increase understanding of them.	Provides opportunity for the player to explore other avenues of learning/adventure. Allows the player to deepen knowledge about various aspects of the game and naturally develops a deeper understanding of the context or storyline.
3. Well-organized, risk oriented problem solving (20)	The game does not have well-organized problems. The problems require only basic recall and do not involve taking a risk; the problems do not increase in difficulty.	Has multiple opportunities to problem solve at varying levels of abstraction. This may include (but is not limited to): puzzles, decisions with consequences reflecting those choices (i.e. involves risk taking); or playing out scenarios. The user should come away from the experience able to easily discuss with others using interpretation, meta-cognition, logic and other elements of critical thinking.	Problem solving opportunities are recursive and transformative. The player is able to finish the game with an added skill set or transformed world-view. The user is able to create their own environment and scenarios that can be shared with other users. Users elicit their own discussion about the gaming experience.
4. Engaging and Motivating (20)	Game does not offer sufficient engagement for players. Game play is either too easy or too difficult. The game involves activities that lack enjoyable elements.	Game offers sufficient engagement for the players. Game play varies in difficulty and activity. The game has many fun elements that engage a wide range of players.	The game is so engaging it is difficult to stop playing. The games learning environment offers an ideal mix of fun and challenging material. The game provides and excellent risk/reward system.
5. Interactivity (Collaboration): students are able to interact with other and the game (20)	There is little or no interaction between players or between players and the game.	Interaction with other players and with the game is occasionally encouraged, but may not play a significant role in game play.	Interaction with others and/or with the game occurs regularly during game play. Collaboration is encouraged and allows the player to progress in the game while receiving support from other players and the game.
6. Skill scaffolding and mastery (20)	Game is either frustrating for novice users due to difficulty or it doesn’t provide enough challenge for experienced users. Different levels/stages of game play are poorly related.	Different levels of the game build upon prior learned skills. Initial game play may be difficult but rewards are attainable.	The level of challenge provided by the game and player ability converge quickly. The difficulty level and pace of the game adapt to the player. Different levels of the game build upon prior learned skills.
7. Encouragement and Feedback (20)	Feedback is not specific and does not happen in a timely manner. Feedback is provided less than 25% of the time.	Feedback is somewhat timely and moderately specific; feedback doesn’t always help the player learn from his/her mistakes. Feedback may only occur 25-60% of the time.	Feedback is immediate and specific, offering support for the player at least 60% of the time, allowing the player to learn from his/her mistakes.
8. Utility (20)	Game play takes large allotments of time for instruction. Game play is too difficult for the user to understand.	Game play is simple and easy to understand with little administrative guidance. Game play is simple enough to allow for user modification for creative purposes or customization, such as adding an avatar.	Game play is intuitive and requires little or no administrative guidance for use. Game play encourages modification and customization, allowing for imagination and ingenuity. Examples might include: creating an avatar or some design elements like building/creating a home.

Resources

Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present visual stories that transform audiences. John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, New Jersey.

Matera, M. (2015). Explore Like a Pirate: Engage, Enrich, and Elevate Your Learners with Gamification and Game-inspired Course Design [E-Reader Version]. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting.

Zichermann, G. & Linder, J. (2013). The gamification revolution: how leaders leverage game mechanics to crush the competition. New York, NY, McGraw-Hill.