DRAFT

Spring 2009

TR 1-2:30 (9-554)

Computer Games and Simulations for Investigation and Education
Prof. Eric Klopfer (klopfer@mit.edu)

During the past two decades, simulation,especially as it helps people to understand complex systems, has becomea mainstream use of computational technology. The widespread popularity of “edutainment” software like SimCity and Civilization gives a clear indication of the extent to which simulation games havepermeated popular culture. As these and other games have found places in the classroom,researchers have tried to ascertain what and how students (or people more generally) learn from these environments, and what implications this has for software and curriculumdesign.

In this project-based course, students from all disciplines are encouraged to understand how we learn from interactive computer environments, and delve into the process of designing and understanding simulations and games for learning. In the first part of the course we will explore the design and use of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) games and simulations in the classroom, and how they have been and can be tailored to learning, including technical, practical and pedagogical advantages and limitations. This will be combined with scholarly readings from the emerging field of learning games. We will then design non-digital games, and study both the design process and learner outcomes. Next we move into the realm of the digital, again studying the design and use of digital games and simulations in educational contexts. Finally, we will also study what and how people learn from simulations (including focus groups and user feedback), and how simulation and gaming tools can be implemented in educational settings. All levels of computer experience welcome. Graduate students are expected to complete additional assignments.


Assignment Overview and Grading


Open Lab Hours
TBA

Game Nights and Design Discussions - Dates TBD (around 7:30 pm)

Week 1 (Feb 3 and 5) – Introduction and Overview of Course

Week 2-3 (Feb 10, 12 and 19) – How to we combine games and education? Edu-tainment?

Week 4 (Feb 24 and Feb 26) – Research on Games and Learning

  • What have we learned from Spore?
    • Discussion of Readings
  • What Video Games Have to Teach Us... (about Spore) - Discussion
  • Do educational games embody these principles?
  • Readings
    • Gee - Video Games, Learning and Literacy

Week 5 (March 3 and 5) – Video Games -> Board Games

Week 6-7 (March 10, 12, 17, and 19) - Learning from Games

Week 8 (March 31 and April 2 ) – Board Games

Week 9-10 (April 7, 9, 14 and 16) – Simulation and Game Design - Prototyping and Constructionism

Week 11 (April 23) - The Case for Mobile Games

  • Augmented Reality Games
  • Reading
    • Augmented Learning

Week 12 (April 28 and April 30)- Thinking about Users

Week 13 (May 5 and 7) – Design and Guests

  • Fablevision
  • Muzzylane

Week 14 (May 12 and 14) – Final Project Presentations

  • Assignment
    • Final User Testing Project -Design and conduct an focused feedback session on how people use your game - include with final paper/presentation.