How to use common game mechanics in learning design (specifically e-Learning).

1. Creating Game-like
Engagement for Learning
(without a Game Designer’s Budget)
Learning Solutions 2010
Julie Dirksen – March 24, 2010
Image via CC license http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/3367543094/

2. Video
Game
Stare
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

3. What’s your budget?
- From www.gdmag.com/freeyear
Available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

4. Halo 3 Sold 8 million copies
Take from http://www.bungie.net/images/Games/Halo3/Screenshots/Halo3_Valhalla-3rdperson-01.jpg
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

5. What games do you play?
• Adventure / Strategy
• Role-playing (RPG)
• Multiplayer Online Games (MOG/MMOG)
• Sports / Racing Arcade
• First Person Shooter (FPS)
• Casual Games (Puzzle Games, Tetris, etc.)
• Simulations
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

6. What games do you play?
• Platforms
– Console games (Xbox, Playstation,
Nintendo, Wii)
– Online single player games
– Online multiplayer games
– Other PC or Mac games
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

7. How many of
you are using
games for
learning now?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

8. Is this “educational gaming?”
$100 $100 $100 $100 $100
$200 $200 $200 $200 $200
$300 $300 $300 $300 $300
$400 $400 $400 $400 $400
$500 $500 $500 $500 $500
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

9. So what do we do about it?
“It may sound trite, but for us educational
games are first and foremost games. Whether
a bona-fide contest with logical rules and a
winning condition, or a Sim City-style sandbox
playtoy, a game experience needs to have
certain basic elements to be a meaningful
experience for players.”
- Eric Zimmerman
So, what are those elements?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

10. 1 2 3 4
Feedback Structure Attention Tools
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

11. 1
Feedback
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

12. Feedback in e-learning:
Good Job! You correctly identified
Option A as the correct answer. That is
correct!
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

13. Let’s play a game
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

14. What types of Feedback did you
see?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

15. How games do feedback:
Points
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

16. How games do feedback:
Collecting
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

17. How games do feedback:
Time
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

18. How games do feedback:
Sound
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

19. How games do feedback:
Events /
Reactions
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

20. Feedback Frequency
How often do users get feedback in e-
Learning?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

21. Better than a Skinner Box
• Positive Feedback
• Negative Feedback
• Reward
• Punishment
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

22. • Points can provide
greater degree of
ambiguity & determine
outcomes
• Multifaceted feedback
(facial expressions,
coaching, line graph,
thoughts)
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

23. • Different types of elements
to be collected
• Motivational element
• Tracking progress
• Completion
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

24. Special Collecting: The Power-up
Power-ups: Improves the abilities of the
player
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

25. What I really find interesting:
• Gameify!
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

26. 2
Structure
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

27. The boss prize of e-learning
• Familiarization
• Comprehension
• Conscious Effort
• Conscious Action
• Proficiency
• Unconscious Competence
- From Electronic Performance Support Systems by Gloria Gery
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

28. Cycles of Expertise
• Principle: Expertise is formed in any area by
repeated cycles of learners practicing skills
until they are nearly automatic, then having
those skills fail in ways that cause the
learners to have to think again and learn
anew...
• Games: Good games create and support
the cycle of expertise...This is, in fact, part of
what constitutes good pacing in a game.
- James Paul Gee
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

29. How games do feedback:
Leveling
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

30. Leveling
• If you are not
proficient enough,
you don’t move
on until you are
proficient.
• Completion =
proficiency
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

31. So, can we just put more levels into
e-Learning?
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6
TEST
TEST
TEST
TEST
TEST
What does this get us?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

32. What’s happening in the
brain?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

33. What is going on when you are
learning something new?
Well, areas like
your frontal cortex
gets busy. It
starts burning a
lot of fuel, and fills
up pretty quickly.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

34. What is going on when you using a
regular pattern you already know?
That leverages
parts of the brain
that can run
without a lot of
conscious
attention.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

35. Glucose Metabolic Rate after several weeks of Tetris Practice
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

36. How is most e-Learning
structured?
Module 1 Module 2 Module 3 Module 4 Module 5 Module 6
Intro New Info More new Even Yet again Summary
Whew
Info more new with the !
Info new info
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

37. How are most games
structured?
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Some Stuff you Stuff Stuff Stuff Boss
new stuff, know you you you Fight
pretty plus a bit know, know know,
easy more maybe a plus a kicked
though little bit more up a
faster notch
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

38. It’s a lot like flow:
Ability
Challenge
- Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

39. It also allows you to pay
attention to what’s different. Whew
!
In this model, everything is new and
everything is important (so nothing is).
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

40. It also allows you to pay
attention to what’s different. Whew
!
In this model, the new material is
mixed in with existing stuff, so the
new material stands out.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

41. We all need a rest
sometimes:
Whew
!
If you don’t give people a break,
they will take it anyway.
Wait, this is Brain
important dead,
leaking
Tuned out out the
ears
Kind of
Uh huh. distracted
Okay, I
Uh huh...
get it
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

42. Goals, Goals and Goals
• Immediate, Short-term and Long-term
goals
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

43. Goals in Diner Dash
• Immediate Goal – Task / Level
• Short-term Goal – Stage
• Long-term Goal – Game Completion
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

44. is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

45. is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

46. Long-term Goal: The boss
fight
When you put all the
skills you’ve learned
together to beat the
BOSS.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

47. The boss fight
“On the boss fight, you are
ready to fail 5-6 times until
you get it.
If I get a boss on the 1st try,
I think it’s too easy.”
- MS Hunter
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

48. • Examples: Dialog Coach
http://www.dialogcoach.com
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

49. Leveling
• Intermittent goals and
overall goal
• Variable mastery of levels
• Gradual improvement of
skills
http://www.dialogcoach.com
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

50. Evaluation is hard:
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

51. What if completion was
enough?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

52. 3
Attention
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

53. Why are brains like elephants?
• Why is our brain like a child riding an
elephant?
Jonathan Haidt – The Happiness Hypothesis
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

54. Child = conscious mind / executive
function (prefrontal cortex)
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

55. Elephant = everything else
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

56. Sometimes the elephant is
willing
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

57. Other times...
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

58. So, how do you train the
elephant?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

59. What are you using here?
• How many people have had to take
the written drivers test lately?
Right of Way and Yielding
Right-of-way and yielding laws help traffic flow smoothly and safely.
They are based on courtesy and common sense. Violation of these
laws is a leading cause of traffic crashes.
When two vehicles reach an intersection at the same time, and there
is no traffic light or signal, the driver of the vehicle on the left must
yield to the vehicle on the right.
-Minnesota Driver’s Manual
• Think about how that feels.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

60. Now, how
about this?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

61. If there’s no urgency...
Most of the
burden is on the
executive function
(e.g. frontal
cortex).
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

62. Learning without urgency:
Relying solely on the executive function
is like:
Gasp!
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

63. What happens when there is
urgency?
Mid-brain areas (e.g.
limbic system / amygdala
are saying:
“PAY ATTENTION! This
could be important.”
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

64. Learning with urgency:
Learning that engages the whole brain
requires much less conscious effort:
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

65. What makes it work?
• Balanced gameplay
– Expectation
– Surprise
– Reward
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

66. Good surprises are good
• Pleasant surprises cause a dopamine
spike
“PAY
ATTENTION!
If this is good,
then you want
more.
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

67. Even bad surprises are good
• Unpleasant surprises cause a
dopamine drop.
“PAY
ATTENTION!
This is bad.
Avoid in future.”
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

68. No surprises are bad
Hmm. I wonder
what I should
have for dinner...
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

69. Games do this well
Gold Gold Gold Gold
Coin Coin Coin Coin
Super Platinum Hammer of Death™
that lets you SQUASH evildoers!!!
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

70. What else?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

71. Narrative & Character
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

72. is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

73. Visual &
Sound
Effects
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

74. Customization /Personalization
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

75. Competition
Leader Boards
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

76. Now you try!
• It’s your turn to try this out…
– Points
– Leveling
– Collecting
– Time
– Surprise
– Reward
– Urgency
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

77. So what’s the catch?
• So this is all great, but what’s the
catch?
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

78. What’s the catch?
• Games are good at teaching you how
to play games (not necessarily how to
actually do things)
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

79. What’s the catch?
Low Fast
Budget Easy
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

80. What’s the catch?
Low Fast
Budget Easy
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

81. What’s the catch?
Gamers are a self-
selecting audience
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

82. Playtesting
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

83. 4
Tools
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

84. Tool: Rapid e-Learning Tools
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

85. Tool: Quandary
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

86. Tool: Game Shows
http://c3softworks.com/products/lms/
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

87. Tool: GameSalad (Mac Only)
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

88. Tool: Thinking Worlds
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

89. Questions?
You can also reach me with questions at:
• Speakers’ Clinic at 4 PM
• Presentation Site: http://www.usablelearning.com/LS2010.html
• Blog: http://usablelearning.wordpress.com
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/usablelearning
• Email: julie@usablelearning.com
Thanks to:
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

90. References
• Books
– Electronic Performance Support System by Gloria Gery
– Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly
Csikszentmihalyi (A reasonable Wikipedia explanation can be found at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) )
– What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and
Literacy by James Paul Gee
– The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

91. References
• Game Articles:
– Learning to Play to Learn - Lessons in Educational Game Design by Nick
Fortugno & Eric Zimmerman
http://www.ericzimmerman.com/texts/learningtoplay.htm - originally
published in Gamasutra
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20050405/zimmerman_01.shtml
(Other publications by Eric Zimmerman
http://www.ericzimmerman.com/writings.html)
– Behavioral Game Design by John Hopson
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010427/hopson_01.htm
– Proof of Learning: Assessment in Serious Games by Sande Chen
http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20051019/chen_01.shtml
– Learning by Design: Games as Learning Machines by James Paul Gee
http://www.gamasutra.com/gdc2004/features/20040324/gee_01.shtml
– Your Brain on Video Games by Steven Johnson
http://discovermagazine.com/2005/jul/brain-on-video-
games/article_print
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

92. References
• General Articles
– The Neuroscience of Leadership by David Rock and Jeffrey
Schwartz http://www.strategy-
business.com/press/freearticle/06207
– The New Science of Change by Christopher Koch
http://www.cio.com/archive/091506/change.html
– Hijacking the Brain Circuits With a Nickel Slot Machine by Sandra
Blakeslee
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F70A14F7
355B0C7A8DDDAB0894DA404482 (paid access)
– Getting past the brain's crap filter Posted by Kathy Sierra on
December 22, 2004 on Creating Passionate Users Blog
http://headrush.typepad.com/creating_passionate_users/2004/w
eek52/index.html
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

93. References
• Egghead stuff
– Predictability Modulates Human Brain Response to Reward by Gregory S. Berns, Samuel M.
McClure, Giuseppe Pagnoni, and P. Read Montague
http://www.ccnl.emory.edu/greg/Koolaid_JN_Print.pdf (Other recent publications by
Gregory Berns http://www.ccnl.emory.edu/greg/)
– When Things Are Better or Worse than Expected: The Medial Frontal Cortex and the
Allocation of Processing Resources
http://www.hnl.bcm.tmc.edu/articles/JNeuroScience2006PottsMontague.pdf Geoffrey F.
Potts, Laura E. Martin, Philip Burton, and P. Read Montague (Other recent publications by
Read Montague http://www.hnl.bcm.tmc.edu/faculty.html)
– Reward signaling by dopamine neurons by Wolfram Schultz
http://www.biopsychiatry.com/dopaminerev.htm
– Recent publications by Jonathan Cohen http://www.csbmb.princeton.edu/ncc/jdc.html
– Regional glucose metabolic changes after learning a complex visuospatial/motor task: a
positron emission tomographic study by Richard J. Haier, Benjamin V. Siegel Jr., Andrew
MacLachlan, Eric Soderling, Stephen Lottenberg and Monte S. Buchsbaum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1617405
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License

94. References
• Games
– Diner Dash:
http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/dinerdash.jsp
– Driver's Ed Game:
http://www.mofunzone.com/online_games/driversed.shtml#
– Super Collapse 3:
http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/collapse3.jsp
– Luck Charm Deluxe:
http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/luckcharm.jsp
– Insaniquarium http://www.shockwave.com
– Luxor http://www.shockwave.com
– Project ALERT: http://www.projectalert.com
is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License