iGBL 2014 Keynote. Maja Pivec. Using Game Design to teach almost anything

Using Game Design
to teach almost anything
Tales from the Serious Game Design Summer School
Prof. DI. Dr. Maja Pivec

researchanddesign.fh-joanneum.at

www.serious-sports.org
Game Design for Teaching

www.greengamesproject.com

www.engagelearning.eu

“Video games can stimulate learning of
facts and skills such as strategic
thinking, creativity, cooperation and
innovative thinking, which are
important skills in the information
society”
(European Parliament, 2009, p.4).

“Young people often perceive the
use of games for education as an
un-serious activity.”
(Pivec, 2010)
Hence, we use game design not game play…..

Serious Game Design Summer School
• Tampere, Finland, 2010
• Tampere, Finland, 2013
• Graz, Austria, 2014

Serious Game Design
Summer School

Course Overview
• 14 Day course – 4-5 ECTS
• 1-2 x 30 minute lectures per day
• 1 x 15 minute expert session per day
• 3 x 90 minute practical work
• Group work
• 3-4 students in each group – mixed
gender, mixed culture.
• Serious Game Design
• Concept design, design documents,
development plan, prototype.
• Group assessment:
• Innovation, quality, completeness.

Course Overview
Submission requirements….
• Completed game design concept
document
• All topics as per lectures
• Professional format
• Creative design
• Prototype product
• 5-minute group presentation
• Attendance of 80% of the course

Learning Outcomes of the course….
 Game design for smart phones and tablets
 Game industry awareness and business opportunities
 Work and collaboration in intercultural project teams
 Applied project management and time/ resource planning
 Communication and presentation techniques
 Problem solving skills
 Entrepreneurship

• Define team:
• Roles, project phases, timeline.
• Define game:
• Title, genre, target audience.
• Define concept:
• Abstract, gameplay, game elements.
• Test concept:
• Play analysis, prototype usability.
• Create document, prototype and presentation:
• Innovative, informative, professional.
Course Overview

Course Lectures include….
Course overview, serious game design
Industry roles, concept documents and the development cycle
Storyboarding, scripts & character design
Educational games and learning outcomes
Player interaction and screen design
Cultural, gender & social aspects
Development tools & environments
Sound design & iterative development
Animation, modeling, & programming
Pitching, presentations and promotion

Why Group Work
 Combined individual knowledge
 Combined different strengths
 Group motivation
 Group ideas / mind mapping
 Collaboration - work place preparation

Support from Game Industry
“The SGDSS has been on of the most profitable learning
experiences I’ve ever had. Very valuable information, highly
skilled professionals, many good contacts”
- Pau Yanez, Spain

“During the two weeks, I learnt so much about game
ideas, game development and design. It was incredible
to share my mind and ideas with others”
- Dominic, Austria
Student Views

E-Heath Concepts

E-Heath Concepts
• Chance of receiving CPR when needed, less
than 30%.
• Success factor limited but without CPR, almost
always fatal.
• “Staying alive” and “Another bites the Dust” are
perfect rhythms .
• CPR – 100 beats per minute
• Compression only is recommended for adults
• Compression and breathing for children
Collateral Learning

E-Heath Concepts
• 75% of the worlds population spend hours
hunched over their mobile device
• This can cause “Text Neck” which results in pain
felt in the neck, shoulders, arms, wrists.
• If left untreated, can result in flattening of the
spinal curve, early arthritis, nerve damage, etc.
• Exercising the neck and shoulders periodically
can offset “Text Neck”
Collateral Learning

E-Heath Concepts
• Different types of Color Blindness
• Normally only in Males (8%), but in rare
cases also in females (0.4%).
• There is no treatment for inherited Color
Blindness (linked to X chromosome)
• There is no successful early detection for
young children
• Living with color blindness can be
managed if detected early enough.
Collateral Learning

Sustainability Concepts

• Many consumers do NOT understand energy
rating labels and what it means to them.
• Energy efficient devices can reduce
consumption by up to 30%.
• Vampire devices use up to 10% of a
households power consumption.
Collateral Learning

• Recycling colors differ for many countries,
even across Europe.
• Many Countries still do not have recycling
bins for public use.
• There is no universal standard for public
recycling, bins, colors, labels, etc.
Collateral Learning

E-Inclusion Concepts

E-Inclusion Concepts
• Awareness of difficulties for people with
disabilities
• Awareness of migrant issues of being
accepted
• Realization that there is no easy answers but
public awareness can help.
Collateral Learning

SGDSS’13 Mobile App

Serious Game Design
Summer School Secrets…..

Success Criteria
1. Forming Teams
2. Forming Ideas
3. Using Blogs
4. Involving Experts
5. Iterative Testing
6. Presentations

Forming Teams
• Early Team Work
• Mixed Gender
• Mixed Culture
• Mixed Skill Set

Forming Ideas
• Well Researched Topics
• Report back to Class
• Ensure alignment of:
• Target Audience
• Platform
• Concept

Using Blogs
• Encourage Daily Reflection
• Branding assists with:
• Ownership
• Entrepreneurship
• Investment

Involve Experts
• Ask Industry Experts other Teachers
• Provide Variety of Topics
• Look for a Superstar!

Iterative Testing
• Continual Testing within Groups and Target Audience
• Test Concept, Format, Platform

Presentations
• Pecha Kucha Style
• Encourage Practice
• Scaffold the Presentation
Technique
• Show Bad Presentation
Examples

Success Criteria
1. Forming Teams
2. Forming Ideas
3. Using Blogs
4. Involve Experts
5. Iterative Testing
6. Presentations

Summer School Websites
summerschool.engagelearning.eu sgdss14.engagelearning.eu

Success Stories from Students

Questions
maja.pivec@fh-joanneum.at
www.majapivec.com

iGBL 2014 Keynote. Maja Pivec. Using Game Design to teach almost anything

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