Interdisciplinary Design
Game-Based Learning Lab (ID GBL2)
Co-Directors Prof. Tamrah D. Cunningham and Dr. Reneta D. Lansiquot
Purpose
The Interdisciplinary Design Game-Based Learning Lab (ID GBL2) is a place to create games for students by students. Honors students will be able to design a variety of digital and non-digital games that they feel will help students learn the fundamental concepts from different disciplines. Students will have a chance to create computer games, virtual reality games, or non-digital tabletop games (e.g., board games, card games, dice games, social games, etc.) that can be easily implemented in a classroom setting. Once created, faculty who are interested in incorporating game-based learning into their curriculum can request a consultation to discuss their course, play student games, and explore incorporating design game-based learning to target critical concepts in their classroom. However, the games will also be available to any interested student whose faculty have not incorporated our games in their classes. In particular, our game library will allow students to access games online or to make an appointment to play non-digital games.
Game Jam
Beginning in spring 2023, the Honors Scholars Program along with City Tech’s Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) will host biweekly game jams focused on playtesting and game literacy. During these events, students will play a collection of games of similar themes so they can understand the process of game design and get an idea as to possible games they can create. There will also be time for students who are already in the process of creating games through the game lab to playtest their games and get constructive feedback from those who attended. Students are also welcome to attend New York University (NYU) Playtest Thursdays. Graduate students from NYU Game Center and Games for Learning Institute will be able to mentor undergraduate student designers on not only game design, but game-based learning and creating games to be used in a classroom setting. Subject matter experts will be consulted, as needed.
Game Jam session example: At the start of the session, a group of students will show any recent progress that was made in the development of their game from the last session. Participating student volunteers will briefly play through the game while the rest of the attendees offer feedback on how to approach a particular problem that the developers are struggling with. Once completed, the session moves on to the discussion of a particular skill that is often crucial to creating compelling games (for example, storytelling). Students play Betrayal at House on the Hill. As they play, they will discuss how students can make narratives interactive and learn about different storytelling elements. The session ends with the announcement of the theme for the next session, resource management.
Internships
Each academic year, the Honors Scholars Program will hire interns to design and develop games to be used in a classroom setting. They will be provided with the tools and the space to work on their game. At the end of the internship, the game will be added to the Honors Scholars Program Game Library. In the Fall semester, students will focus on researching and planning their games and providing a playable paper prototype that will be presented as an Interdisciplinary Project at the Semi-Annual Janet Liou-Mark Honors & Undergraduate Research Scholars Poster Presentation. In the Spring semester, they will move on to a full development cycle where the result will be a completed game that may be used in a classroom the following academic year. Educational research will be conducted, when appropriate, which will result in conference presentations and publications to disseminate our work.
Current interns: Luke Hahn and Kimberly Ramgopal
Previous interns: Qing (Charlotte) Chen and Cindy Veliz
