CRP 4570/5570 Geogames for Civic Engagement
This course provides an opportunity for students to engage in an in-depth study of games and formal game structures. It begins with the introduction into games, and a discussion about the differences between a game and play. The discussion is based on a variety of game examples. Several invited speakers enhance the covered topics and bring a broader perspective to the central theme of the course. Carefully selected literature supports the process of learning. The focus is on geogames with a purpose. Geogames are games that concentrate on the well-being of Gaia. They are designed with a purpose in mind that is more than just fun and entertainment and provide opportunities for learning. Geogames can be analogue, digital or hybrid mixing principles of analogue and digital.
Course explorations concentrate around the following questions: How can geogames with a purpose be designed, tested and evaluated? Who are potential players? How can the developed geogames contribute to the well-being of Gaia? Students work on the design of a geogame and learn the process of rapid prototyping. They brainstorm about their ideas, develop a concept for their own geogame prototype and implement game elements in their designed game. Students work in teams discussing their geogame ideas, concepts, and models. They learn how to test their geogame prototype and report about the results of their testing. At the end of the class students present their work in a short presentation and demonstration of the developed and implemented geogame prototype.
Geogames Lab 