Does Your Course Have Game?

Does Your Course
Have Game?
Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman
Humber College, Toronto
Innovations 2013 Conference, Dallas, Texas, Forum Session, 10 th March 2013

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Learned about Gamification
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Session Outline
1. Strategies from Video Games
• What is the problem?
• How can games be part of the solution?
2. Our Experiments with “Gamification”
3. Creating an Educational Video Game
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Student Engagement
• Students must be
engaged before they
can learn
• Many students give
up and switch off
when challenged
• High student attrition
and failure rates
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
The video game industry
• In Canada 80-90% of 6-
17 yr olds are
considered “gamers”
• Every good video game
is challenging
• No game is advertised
as “easy”
• What lessons could we
learn?
“Gamification”
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Progression
• Progression
constantly
updated
• Can see at a
glance where
you are and
often where you
stand
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Avatars and Leveling up
• Avatar that
represents the player
• Constant feedback
• As points are earned,
player levels up
• Shown visually via a
change in their avatar
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Achievements / Badges
• Gamers collect
achievements or
badges
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Quests
• A succession of
quests
• Quest is a mission or
task for the player to
complete
• Keep trying ‘til you
succeed
• Gradual increase in
ability needed
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Our Experiments With Gamification
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Avatars and Leveling Up
• Embedded features
into course website
• Avatars that level up
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Badges
• Collectible
• Correspond to
student engagement
• Able to encourage
actions that are “for
the greater good”
Artwork by Katharine Webb,
Humber College
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Quest Based Learning
• 3D Game Lab from Boise State University
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Feedback from students
• Course map
– Can see my marks and where I
stand at a glance – “in my
face”
– Keeps me on track
– Reminds me to talk to teacher
if there’s a problem
• Avatars and Leveling up
– Feels good to level up
– Cool, but not enough to
motivate me to work
– Need a progress bar
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Feedback from students
• Badges
– Interest high at start but
waned over time
– Not all badges worthwhile
• Quest based learning
– I like working at my own
pace
– I like meeting people for coop
quests
– Loved “try ‘til you succeed”
strategy (depth of learning
much improved)
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

Why Do You Like Games?
• Get into a group of 4 or 5
– Choose a speaker & note taker
• Discuss your favorite games
– Can be any type such as a video game, board
game or sport
• What keeps you coming back?
• What frustrates you?
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Creating a Video Game
• We wanted to
create a game to
engage students
• Fostering the
qualities of a
successful student
• Secured a research
grant from Humber
College
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Hired Students in Spring 2012
Programmer
Musician
Designer
Artists

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
What’s the game?
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Targeting Student Engagement
• Students earn
points inside &
outside the
classroom
• Can spend points
in the game
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Prototype of Game
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Producing our own Video Game
What went well?
• Game designed and
created by students
• Game transferable to
other courses
• Great experience for
our student team
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Producing our own Video Game
What went not so well?
• Game more complex
than anticipated
• Staffing issues
• Over budget
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

1. Strategies from Games 2. Our Experiments 3. Creating a Video Game
Future Plans
• Pilot game in Fall
2013
• Measure
effectiveness
• Reach out to
other faculty and
programs
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

Summary
• Tap into the gamer
culture
• Strategies from the
video game industry
• Target student
engagement
• Gamify on a small
scale and build up
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College

Thank you!
Please contact us
umer.noor@humber.ca
hausman@humber.ca
Does Your Course Have Game? Umer Noor, Lynda Hausman, Humber College