The recent webinar hosted by Lydia Symchych, a video game designer at ELB Learning, delved into the exciting realm where game design meets education. The session explored how games can be purposely crafted to enhance learning experiences and positively impact players. With Lydia’s expertise in educational media and her insights from navigating through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the discussion provided a unique and valuable perspective.
The Essence of Positive Impact Game Design
Lydia introduced herself as a “positive impact video game designer,” emphasizing her commitment to creating games that enhance learning experiences. Her journey into game design stemmed from a deep-rooted passion for education and teaching, leading her through diverse roles in museums and educational game development. This eclectic blend of experiences shaped her understanding of how interactive content can effectively teach and reinforce concepts.
The webinar’s central message was crystal clear: games should enrich learners’ knowledge and skills. Lydia outlined her meticulous approach to game design, encapsulating four key steps that aim to achieve educational objectives while maintaining engagement.
Understanding Learner Needs
The initial phase of Lydia’s design process involves a profound understanding of the needs of the learners. This necessitates pinpointing the issues that require resolution and establishing precise impact objectives that the game should accomplish. She emphasized the importance of focus, stressing that a game must concentrate on specific goals to be truly effective. By categorizing content into distinct buckets – what to cover, what to save for future iterations, and what to omit – designers can streamline their efforts effectively.
Defining Game Objectives
Once the content is organized, the subsequent step entails defining concrete goals for the game. Lydia urged participants to articulate these goals vividly, using statements like “This game should teach…” to ensure alignment with educational outcomes. Secondary impact objectives can supplement the primary goal, such as ensuring inclusivity and catering to diverse learning needs. To delve deeper into the goal identification process, check out the full recording of the webinar here.
Considering the Audience
Lydia underscored that understanding the game’s players extends beyond merely identifying learners; it encompasses considerations for game administrators and other stakeholders affected by its outcomes. This holistic viewpoint ensures an equitable balance of all needs throughout the design process.
Researching Content and Mechanics
Thorough research is pivotal in crafting engaging games. Lydia shared her personal journey of exploring various topics to inform her designs, ranging from educational standards to existing games and mechanics that could spark innovative gameplay ideas. She stressed the significance of identifying pain points in current training methodologies, which can guide designers in developing games that effectively address these challenges.
Designing Engaging Mechanics
Incorporating captivating mechanics is essential for sustaining learner interest. Lydia distinguished between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, elucidating that while both play roles in engagement, intrinsic motivation – driven by personal fulfillment – tends to be more enduring. She cautioned against over-reliance on extrinsic motivators like competition or rewards, as improper management could foster toxic learning environments.
Prototyping and Testing
The final phases of Lydia’s process involve prototyping and testing games with actual users. She encouraged designers to meticulously document their ideas and utilize storyboards or flowcharts to visualize gameplay mechanics and user experiences. Evaluating the game across diverse player demographics ensures resonance with the intended audience, meeting their expectations effectively.
Lydia’s expertise in designing games for positive impact offers valuable insights for anyone interested in educational game development. Her emphasis on understanding learner needs, defining clear objectives, conducting thorough content research, and devising engaging mechanics establishes a solid foundation for creating impactful educational games.
Is your organization seeking to elevate its learning games or initiating a foray into games and gamification within the learning strategy? ELB Learning stands poised to assist.
For those eager to delve deeper into these concepts, we highly recommend watching the full recording of the webinar. Lydia’s engaging delivery and practical advice make it a truly enriching experience for educators, designers, and enthusiasts looking to harness games for learning. By embracing these principles, we can develop games that entertain and educate, leaving a lasting positive impact on learners worldwide.
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