In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, the power of Games For Learning is becoming increasingly recognized. Our program provides an in-depth exploration into this exciting field, offering specialized areas of study meticulously designed to cater to diverse interests within game-based education. Whether you are drawn to the intricacies of game design, the technical challenges of game development, the rigorous inquiry of game research, or wish to carve a unique path with a student-customized focus under expert faculty guidance, we have a pathway for you. Upon graduation, you will possess a comprehensive understanding that spans across crucial domains within games for learning.
Our curriculum delves into the multifaceted role of social, emotional, cultural, and cognitive elements in learning, directly addressing their impact on effective game design. You will gain robust knowledge of established game design models and the best developmental practices currently employed in the industry. Furthermore, the program emphasizes the intrinsic value of narrative features within game design, teaching you how compelling storytelling can significantly enhance the learning experience. A critical component of your education will be mastering research methods specifically tailored to improve and rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of games designed for learning.
Through close collaboration with our experienced faculty and practical field experiences, you will cultivate essential skills and insights. You will be able to articulate both the significant advantages and inherent limitations of utilizing digital games as tools for learning. This includes discerning which types of learning objectives, learner profiles, content areas, and educational settings are most conducive to successful game integration. You will develop a nuanced understanding of the crucial role and inherent function of play within the context of games for learning. This involves appreciating how various game features—such as immersive role-playing, engaging narratives, constructive feedback mechanisms, situated learning experiences, distributed cognition, and the pedagogical value of learning from failure—contribute to enhanced educational outcomes.
Furthermore, you will learn to effectively apply the social, cognitive, emotional, and cultural dimensions that significantly influence learning directly into your game design process. This application will be grounded in established theories from the learning sciences and cognitive science, ensuring a theoretically sound and practically relevant approach to game creation. You will achieve demonstrable competency in a specialized area, choosing from technical development of digital games for learning, the pedagogical learning design of digital games, advanced methods for research and evaluation in games for learning, or a related area approved by our program faculty to align with your specific career aspirations. Finally, you will master the application of design-based research methodologies to effectively support the creation of impactful games for learning. This includes proficiency in usability research, comprehensive playtesting protocols, and a diverse range of evaluation approaches to ensure the quality and effectiveness of your game designs.
Learn more about our Educational Communication and Technology faculty.
