David Smith: Praxis - A step forward in learning games
http://youtu.be/CppIYs5i948
Praxis is an educational adventure game with RPG elements. The game aims to assist with learning science whilst analysing student actions to create a picture of how well they understand certain concepts. In this presentation David will discuss the processes that we went through in developing the game, how making a game educational differs from making a non-educational game, the common pitfalls (the majority of which we managed to avoid), and how integrating information allows for improvement of the game experience in addition to changed teacher practice.
Greet crowdIntroduce self / Quantum / ProjectIntroduce Presentation – Look at the sate of educational gamesLook at what praxis tries to achieve
Focus on physicsDemographic importantConceptual for younger – less formulaNot everyone studious
More like this kidStigma of being smartKids left behind
Something we know is good for usMotivation is still toughExercise
Games are great for closing the gapWhy this conference existsBefore start do some research
Presented with challengeHow to make funSee too often easy wayCan add experience
Can add levels
Add money and upgrades
Avatar’s
Educational game equivalent of farmvilleNot quite a gameSeeks to abuse operant conditioningFeedback loopDopamine
http://gigaom.com/2010/02/17/average-social-gamer-is-a-43-year-old-woman/More than ever kids know< 1% of farmville users < 18> 1/5 th of facebook users
http://news.yahoo.com/91-percent-kids-play-video-games-says-study-153430432.html91% of kids between 2 – 17 play regularlyMore than ever beforeIncreasingWhat they playing
What makes a successful gameHero / bestWhat do they teach / howMemorize hundreds of pokemonBy design?Elements.
What makes a successful edu gameIs it the same?Math blaster.Difference?MoneyMarket, adults vs kids
MinecraftApproximately 50% of user base teenagers or youngerNew education trendEngagementFlexible
Teach with portals initiativeTeacher resourcesExperience
Finally to PraxisFew iterationsRPGOpen worldDesign game first – Education too forcedAdventure style
Problem solvingTopics behind themPossibly not obviousExtra information non-obtrusiveDon’t need to know stuff
Teachers still have jobsThings represented visuallyWork makes you better
DataAttemptsTrends
Praxis not perfectBeauty of data collectionIterate