The Pedagogy of Commercial Games Katrin Becker University

The Pedagogy of Commercial Games Katrin Becker University of Calgary March 2006 K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 This session examines successful commercial games to connect the designs of these games with known learning and instructional design theories. Pedagogy & Games Prepared for the IMAGINE Network Symposium Mar 25 -26 2006

How I got here… • • • Learning how to design and create programs Teaching how to create games (already designed) Thinking about how to design games Thinking about how to design and create educational games. …. . How to teach how to design and create educational games K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

“The invention of new methods that are adequate to the new ways in which problems are posed requires far more than a simple modification of previously accepted methods. " Vygotsky K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

New Ways to Pose Problems? • Complex • Ill-structured • Interconnected • Different perspectives • Emergent • Affective • Value laden Digital Games = New Method K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

New Ways to View Learning • Constructivism • Constructionism • Envactivism • Activity Theory • Situated Cognition K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

Digital Games More than a simple modification of previously accepted methods… Now what? Look at HOW… Look at exemplars: 1. “Old Media” 2. New Media K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

Why are these such good teachers? Amos’n’Andy The West Wing K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

How Do Games Teach? Learning Theories To find out how games should teach, first look at how games do teach. Place in familiar context: Learning & Instructional Theories Find contact points. Gagné Reigeluth Kolb / Keirsey / Gregorc / Felder K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

How Do Games Teach? Learning Theories Each of these elements can be seen as a tool that facilitates learning. Levels Attract Mode Valorization 2. Informing Learners of the Objective (Expectancy) Trailers H. U. D. Heads Up Display Sandbox Mode Tutorial Mode 4. Presenting the Stimulus (Selective Perception) Click to progress Gagné’s through Nine events Events 5. Providing Learning Guidance (Semantic Encoding) 7. Providing Feedback (Reinforcement) A. I. Artificial Intelligence K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 P. O. V. / Perspective Point of View Story Mode N. P. C. 8. Assessing Performance (Retrieval) Boss Challenges Cut. Scenes 3. Stimulating Recall of Prior Learning (Retrieval) 1. Gaining Attention (Reception) 9. Enhancing Retention and Transfer (Generalization) Back Story Fan Sites & Game Communities 6. Eliciting Performance (Responding) Transmediality Variable L. O. D. Level of Detail Pedagogy & Games Non-Playable Characters

Are Games Good Teachers Too? Another example. . K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games Learning Theories

Are Games Good Teachers Too? Learning Theories Each of these elements can be seen as a tool that facilitates learning. Levels Attract Mode Trailers Valorization 1. Elaborative Sequence Back Story P. O. V. / Perspective 2. Learning Prerequisite Sequences Point of View H. U. D. Heads Up Display 7. Learner Control Sandbox Mode Reigeluth’s Click to progress Elaboration through Theory strategies 6. Cognitive Strategies Tutorial Mode 3. Summary 4. Synthesis 5. Analogies Story Mode N. P. C. Non-Playable Characters Fan Sites & Game Communities Boss Challenges Cut. Scenes A. I. Artificial Intelligence K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Transmediality Pedagogy & Games Variable L. O. D. Level of Detail

How Do Games Teach? • Kolb / Keirsey K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games Learning Styles

How Do Games Teach? Idealists Kolb’s “Races” Converger Photo: Neverwinter Nights http: //www. boolsite. net/ Keirsey’s “Races” Guardians Some Learning Styles already Assimilator conjure up images of various races…. Photo: Neverwinter Nights http: //www. boolsite. net/wallpapers Photo: gamewallpapers. com Artisans Photo: Halo 2 www. freecomputer-wallpapers. com Learning Styles Photo: NOX gamewallpapers. com K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Accomodator Photo: Legend of Zelda www. free-computerwallpapers. com Diverger Rationals Photo: Shenmue Metroidhttp: //www. boolsite. net Prime nintelligent. net Pedagogy & Games

How Do Games Teach? • Gregorc K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games Learning Styles

How Do Games Teach? Learning Styles Concrete-Random: Syberia • • Concrete-Sequential: Super Monkeyball Screenshot: mobygames. com Gregorc’s System of Learning Abstract-Random: Katamari Damacy Abstract-Sequential: Myst Screenshot: mobygames. com K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Syberia http: //www. boolsite. net Screenshot: mobygames. com Pedagogy & Games

How Do Games Teach? • Felder K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games Learning Styles

How Do Games Teach? Active (doing) Felder’s Sensing (facts, processes) Index of Learning Visual (seeing, picturing) Styles Need For Speed versu Felder’s s Index versuof Learning s Styles versu Learning Styles Reflective (thinking) Intuitive (concepts, relationships) Verbal (hearing, reading, saying) s Sequential (step-wise) Global (leaps, random) Medal of Honor Civilization III Felder’s Index of Learning Styles Black and White versu s Screenshot: mobygames. com Roller Coaster Tycoon K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Harvest Moon Felder’s Index of Felder’s Screenshot: gamespot. com Learning Index of Styles Learning Styles Psychonauts Electroplankton Pedagogy & Games Screenshot: mobygames. com Screenshot: gamespot. com

How Do Games Teach? Learning Styles Most successful games ALREADY allow players to approach from the perspective of various styles. What other media lets us do that? K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

Next Steps Knowing why a game is good is not the same as knowing how to make a game good, but it is a necessary first step. OUTCOMES (moving towards…): • Clear evidence that existing designs of commercial games already embody sound pedagogy, as found in established learning theory, even if that connection was neither conscious, nor deliberate on the part of the designers. • An understanding of how digital games can be used as instructional technology informed by learning theory. • A theory/theories of the kinds of learning best served through this technology. • A synthesis of core requirements for instructional design relevant to games. K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games

Next Steps Instructional Games Design will require a thorough grounding in BOTH Instructional Design AND Games Design. Merrill’s First Principles (applied to instructional game design – core requirements? ): 1. Engagement – Solving realistic (real-life) problems 2. Activation – Start Where the player/learner is. 3. Demonstration – Show them what we want them to learn – don’t just tell them. 4. Application – New knowledge must be applied to solve problems. 5. Integration – Motivate to apply what was learned K. Becker IMAGINE Network Symposium ‘ 06 Pedagogy & Games Promo shot