Games provide shining examples of building motivation into their virtual environments. This session will demonstrate different ways to incorporate game design elements into online courses as a tool for improving engagement and motivation. Emphasis will be on how small changes in course design can deeply affect student motivation. We will introduce motivational theory and pedagogical research as it applies to education and gaming, as well as presenting standard game elements. Topics will include implementing role-playing, tech-trees, questing, and emergent narratives.
Session Objectives- Approach course design with a new perspective.
- Experience how uninteresting activities can be transformed through world building and other game elements.
- Conceptualize how robust gaming structures can be woven throughout a course.
- Access resources that introduce research in motivation and self-determination theory (SDT).
- Practice transforming your own course activities using gaming elements as inspiration.