Educational Gaming: Issues and Solutions

Chmiel, M. (2012). Learning about the game: designing science games for a generation of gamers. Cultural Studies Of Science Education, 7(4), 807-812. doi:10.1007/s11422-012-9428-9

The above article is an excellent read on the fine line between educational gaming and how it can become, dare I say it, too fun and thereby becomes too  much of a game. There is a line, and as game makers, there is a certain obligation to make sure that it stays educationally relevant. In this paper, the game makers created a roller coaster based video game that, after a certain amount of time, became so fun that gamers were looking to try and find a weakness to exploit. Of all things, Google may the weakness easily exposed and therefore allowed gamers to exceed common expectations.

So, why does this matter, and should I really be worried about it with my own research into the gaming world?

Of course it matters to me, even with second graders. Currently there seems to be an influx of technology berating children on a daily basis and making technology faster, more readily available and far more advance than it was even in "my day". Granted, the only real technology available to me in the second grade was ... I believe Windows 95 and my family did not own a computer, let alone half of the stuff my nieces and nephew have come to play with. 

As a game designer, I face the same problem that teachers face: kids are getting smarter and more manipulative as the technology advances. It astounds me at how quickly kids can find loopholes into everything. I believe this is why I have decided to go by way of a board game, and by first assuming they are at least somewhat innocent for the first test. After the first test, the exploits and main loopholes can be found and resolved.

I found this article to be extremely useful for how I plan on carrying out my plan to design and define my game. I don't want some crappy boring flash card sort of game, but I also want it to hold the educational aspects that teachers and parents are going to want for their children. Hopefully it will find that border, stay there and still be relevant, at least for a bit before the kids end up getting too smart.

Statement of Intent: Capstone Game Design

For my Capstone Project I plan on creating an educational game for children. Monica has agreed to be my Director. I plan on working in the gaming industry after graduation, and hopefully having these prototypes and at least one functional game will provide me with the ways forward.

After researching standards across states and designing a few prototypes. Currently the ideas are surrounding counting, money, and fairy tales. My plan is to further research the current curriculum in Maryland and West Virginia for students in the K-5 range and to make sure that I cover more than just basics for these kids. I plan on going to two different schools for testing, Shepherdstown, WV and Maugansville, MD Elementary schools. I want to see if there is a difference in a few areas including: ways children are being taught, are there separate focuses, and if these differences make a huge impact at those ages.

I also want to try and convert some of these games into applications for tablets and phones. I figure, if technology is changing, education can't be too far behind and therefore, so should these games. That means that there should be companion applications for at least one of these games. However, my goal is to have at least 3 working games and letting the children decide which one they like best.

Right now, the idea for my first game is for at least 2 children, and it will be turn based. It will combine both math and fairy tale-like creatures. I'm not sure if dice will be included or if it will be card based. I plan on working closely with teachers in both schools to better formulate these games and to see the mindset of the children. I look forward to the challenges of creating educational games because sometimes they do come off as dry and unappealing. My main goal is to keep the education, but keep it fun too.