1Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Serious Instructional

Design:

ID for Digital Simulations and Games

Katrin Becker&

Jim Parker

“If we teach today's students as we did

yesterday's, we are robbing them of tomorrow.”

— John Dewey

2Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Inception

Wrapping a game around instruction

“education (is) a bitter medicine that needs the

sugar-coating of entertainment to become

palatable” M.Resnick

When gamers make games we often get hollow games.

Skinning a game with ‘learnin’

“edufication”

When educators make games we

often get “edutainment

”

3Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Is Focused Design Necessary?

NEITHER are sufficient.

The need for accuracy* necessitates the incorporation of simulation design principles.

Game Designers: All we need is sound game

design.

Instructional Designers:

All we need is sound

instructional design.

*Accuracy applies to some

aspects only.

4Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Experiential

All (Digital) Games are Simulations

ExperimentalAnswer a “What If?” question.

Provide an experience

5Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Is Focused Design Necessary?

Simulation: focus is on accurate model implementation

Game Design:focus is on experience

Instructional Design:

focus is on content

6Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Designing Instruction

A.D.D.I.E.

7Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Designing Simulations1. Define Original System

2. Gather Data Conceptual Model

3. Validate4. Create

Operational Model

5. Verify6. Translate into

Simulation7. Test

8Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Designing Games

Why are we playing?

Where are we playing?

How are we playing?

9Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Synergy: Serious

Instructional Design

10Serious Instructional Design - 2012Katrin Becker, Jim Parker

Thanks!

Jim Parker Katrin Becker

The Guide to

Computer Simulation

s and Games