Slow and Steady Wins the Game: Designing Educational Games Together

What is it about?

Imagine creating fun and educational games by working with experts from different fields! This research explores a new method for designing serious games through collaborative game jams. The main difference between this and previous research is that we recommend taking things slow and steady, allowing for deeper reflection and knowledge sharing between educators, game designers, and subject matter experts. This approach fosters innovation and leads to games that are not only fun to play but also effective learning tools! While challenges exist, this research shows promise for creating a valuable framework for serious game design. The SSGJ is a novel approach to designing serious games (games for education or training) through collaborative game jams. Here's a breakdown of its key features: Focus on Collaboration: Unlike traditional game jams that emphasize individual work, the SSGJ encourages teams with diverse backgrounds (domain experts, educators, and game designers) to work together. This ensures the created games are not just fun but also effective learning tools. Slow and Deliberate Pace: SSGJ spreads the development process out over a longer timeframe compared to rapid prototyping jams. This allows for deeper reflection, refinement of ideas, and ensuring the games achieve the desired learning outcomes. Knowledge Exchange: A core aspect of the SSGJ is knowledge sharing. Domain experts provide valuable insights into the subject matter, educators guide the learning aspects, and game designers contribute their expertise in creating engaging mechanics.

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Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash

Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Creating educational games is not just about cramming information into a fun shell, but a collaborative effort that sparks innovation. This research proposes a new method for serious game design – the SSGJ – that brings together educators, game designers, and subject matter experts. By working side-by-side, they can create games that are both fun and engaging to play, while effectively teaching valuable skills and knowledge. The SSGJ isn't just about speed. By slowing down the development process, participants have more time to reflect, refine their ideas, and ensure the game truly achieves its learning goals. This makes the SSGJ more accessible to people with busy schedules or those who might be new to game design. Of course, there are hurdles to overcome. Recruiting this mix of talented people can be tricky, and making sure everyone understands the focus on learning over competition is important. Tailoring support materials to fit the participants' skill levels is also key. Despite these challenges, the SSGJ model holds immense promise. By fostering collaboration, reflection, and knowledge exchange, it paves the way for a future where serious games are not only fun to play, but also powerful tools for effective learning.