Gaming Mechanics
The constraints and supports which promote play, fairness and engagement. Hopefully.
What are they?
Game Mechanics can help foster repetitive play, fairness, motivation, exploration, learning, skill building, and focus among other experiences. Many mechanics are inherent to the type of game being played while others are more universal. A good, fun game that engages players will have a variety of game mechanics that are used with purposeful design. Such a design takes into account the abilities and motivations of the player and may even change as a result of game and learning experiences over time.
An example of a mechanic often used in board games is being able to move a variable amount of space based on a probability distribution generated by a pair of dice. If movement was determined by a set amount, much of the outcome of the game would be predetermined and therefore not as interesting to the players. Another example of a game mechanic is a time constraint. Many athletic games are played for a set amount of time which can pressure players to perform well and maximize their team score before the game is over.
In the intersection of gaming mechanics and course design, it is best for instructors to consider how a game will help the player (student) reach the learning objective. The game mechanics that will most align with instruction and assessment strategies are those which encourage training and replayability. Many games provide ways for players to obtain background information and skills needed to overcome a challenge. Most games that are enjoyable throughout multiple play sessions encourage players to re-engage with game content at a deeper level, from a different perspective, or at a higher level of difficulty.
Research Foundations
Several authors in writing “Mapping learning and game mechanics for serious game analysis’ (Arnab et al., 2015) made an effort to note the parallels between successful game design and course building. Their attempt is to facilitate the design of effective learning and assessment experiences.
Jesse Schell writes in The Art of Game Design, that you “must know what your audience likes and does not like. You must know it better than they do.” (Schell, 2015, p116). Extending this to games in educational settings, it is important to consider the abilities and desires of your student audience.
How Can I Use Game Mechanics in My Classroom?
Games can provide a wonderful way to introduce students to complex and chaotic subjects. The successful play experience in an educational game will encourage students to learn, interact and apply skills. The game mechanics selected for a learning experience should align and help support the learning objectives of the activity or the larger course. If the purpose of a game is to teach different methods of interviewing techniques, then it is best to put students in a situation where they need to select particular techniques for certain interview subjects. Allowing the students to retry an interview using a different technique allows them to understand the strengths and weaknesses in each method.
Considerations for Online Instruction
- Online classes have the challenge of students being separated by distance. Game play must happen in some online space. This space must be able to accommodate distance and even asynchronous play.
- Games should be selected based on the area of your course you want to focus on. Find or design your game for the content, not the content for the sake of the game itself.
- Students can use a rapid application development platforms to quickly outline a game idea based on mechanics, and your course content.
How-to Instructions and DIY
Here is a list of Links to “How To” Instructions:
- Features and instructions for using Ultra Discussion boards for asynchronous communication on the Backboard.com support center.
- Instructions for using the Slack messaging and group discussion application for asynchronous communication. Slack runs on all platforms and devices.
- Marvelapp, a free rapid application development platform, allows for web and mobile based delivery.
Watch: Mastering Game Mechanics
In Practice
The Journalism 101 online class website, The Haveman Chronicle, is a game based, role-playing, exploration and performance based simulation, where students earn more abilities based on their progress in the course.
Further Resources
- Jane McGonigal’s curation of alternative reality games to “tackle real-world problems at a planetary scale”.
- The Institute of Play – Game-Like Learning Principles
- iTeachU: Quality Matters Resources
References
- Arnab, et al.(2015). Mapping learning and game mechanics for serious games analysis. British Journal of Educational Technology, 46(2), 391-411. doi:10.1111/bjet.12113
- Schell, J. (2015). The art of game design: A book of lenses (2 ed.)
- Hamari, J, Koivisto, J, and Sarsa H. (2014). Does Gamification Work? – A Literature Review of Empirical Studies on Gamification. 2014 47th Hawaii International Conference on System Science.
The article you've shared delves into gaming mechanics and their applications in various fields, particularly in education. Let's break down the key concepts and information presented:
Gaming Mechanics:
- Purposeful Design: Games are structured with mechanics that serve a purpose, fostering repetitive play, fairness, motivation, exploration, learning, skill building, and focus.
- Variety in Mechanics: A well-designed game incorporates diverse mechanics that consider player abilities and motivations, evolving based on player experiences.
- Examples: Mechanics like probability-based movement (using dice in board games) or time constraints in athletic games illustrate how mechanics impact gameplay dynamics and engagement.
Gaming Mechanics in Education:
- Alignment with Learning Objectives: Instructors align game mechanics with learning objectives, emphasizing mechanics that encourage replayability and skill development.
- Engagement and Learning: Games provide a platform for students to engage, learn, interact, and apply skills, promoting deeper understanding through multiple play sessions.
Research and Literature:
- Arnab et al. (2015): Authors explore parallels between successful game design and course building, aiming to facilitate effective learning and assessment experiences.
- Jesse Schell: Emphasizes understanding audience preferences, crucial in educational settings to cater to student abilities and desires.
Game Mechanics in Classroom and Online Instruction:
- Application in Education: Games can introduce complex subjects, allowing students to experiment with different techniques and retry scenarios for deeper understanding.
- Online Instruction Challenges: Addressing the challenge of distance in online classes, selecting or designing games based on course content.
How-to Instructions and DIY Resources:
- Various Platforms: Recommendations for platforms like Ultra Discussion Boards, Slack for communication, Marvelapp for rapid application development.
Examples and Further Resources:
- Practical Examples: Journalism 101's Haveman Chronicle website as a simulation-based learning platform.
- Additional Resources: Jane McGonigal's alternative reality games and resources from The Institute of Play and iTeachU.
References and Contacts:
- Scholarly Sources: References to scholarly articles like Arnab et al. (2015), Schell's work, and Hamari, Koivisto, and Sarsa (2014).
- Contact Information: Dan LaSota, an instructional designer, QM Peer Reviewer, and QM Training Facilitator, offering expertise and guidance.
Each aspect of this article emphasizes the strategic integration of gaming mechanics in education, aligning them with learning objectives and utilizing them to enhance engagement and understanding. The resources and references provided underscore the depth of research and thought in this field, offering practical applications for educators.
