Game On! Teachers Design Their Own Educational Games in Just 2 Hours

What is it about?

This research paper proposes a new method for designing educational games collaboratively with teachers online. Traditional game design requires a lot of expertise and time, making it difficult for teachers to get involved. This research addresses this challenge by creating a workflow called SGROC (Serious Game Rapid Online Co-design). Here's how SGROC works: Small groups of teachers participate in online workshops. The workshops are designed to be short (2 hours) and require teachers to have minimal prior knowledge of game design. The workshops are facilitated by game design experts who guide teachers through the process of coming up with educational games.

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Why is it important?

The research could encourage teachers to be involved in the design of educational games, which can potentially lead to more effective learning tools. Because the workshops are online, they are more inclusive for teachers who may have difficulty traveling or who have other commitments. The short timeframe of the workshops makes them less demanding on teachers' time. The researchers tested SGROC with two groups of teachers and were able to develop eight educational games in total. The teachers who participated in the workshops reported positive experiences. This research is promising because it could make it easier for teachers to be involved in creating educational games. More research is needed to see how effective these teacher-designed games are in the classroom.