5317 Publication FINAL Draft

Introduction 

As someone who teaches Game Design at a school I'm enthusiastic about using game design principles to craft captivating and meaningful learning experiences for my students. In the next couple of years I'm excited to lead a project where my Game Design classes will collaborate with Science and English classes. Our aim is to develop a blended curriculum centered on growth mindset concepts and neuroplasticity.

In this piece I'll share my insights and suggestions for educators looking to implement curricular gamified initiatives. I'll explore the advantages and hurdles of coordinating a class project methods for infusing gamification across various subjects and advice on evaluating collaborative efforts. My hope is that this will offer guidance for others looking to create a gamified blended learning environment while empowering students to utilize advanced creative tools.

The Benefits of Interdisciplinary Teamwork

Uniting multiple classes and subjects in this endeavor will foster creativity, diverse viewpoints and deeper learning compared to working separately. Students will have the opportunity to forge connections, across disciplines by combining their skills in game design, biology and creative writing to construct narratives.

From a teaching standpoint working together with colleagues, from departments will encourage me to reassess my beliefs and methods. Establishing joint planning sessions is crucial for coordinating learning goals, project schedules, tasks and assessment criteria. While organizing such a schedule involving all parties poses hurdles, the shared responsibility for the curriculum will give the collaboration depth beyond just sharing lesson plans. I believe that adaptability and communication play roles in orchestrating any class initiative.

Creating an Educational Game based Curriculum

Developing a game based curriculum involves blending captivating gameplay elements such as storytelling, challenges and rewards with the educational objectives. In this endeavor our storyline and missions will revolve around the concepts of growth mindset, neuroplasticity and realizing one's own potential. The game scenarios will be structured to impart these principles to students and players through their experiences.

For instance we plan to design a lab setting where players can enhance connections and "level up" specific skills through consistent practice. To advance in the game players must utilize tactics like soliciting feedback, taking risks and regarding setbacks as opportunities for growth. These mechanisms aim to instill a growth mindset in students 

We intend to engage students in constructing conversation branches and programming gaming systems using tools, like the Unity game engine. By allowing students to take charge of creating content they will feel more engaged, in combining their knowledge from subjects into the lessons. I suggest that other teachers empower students with freedom within a framework when incorporating game elements into the curriculum.

Evaluating Collaborative Projects

When assessing projects spanning subjects it is crucial to establish common rubrics, standards and milestones. In the project planning stage my colleagues and I will work together to create assessment criteria that acknowledge contributions from each field of study. For instance students studying Game Design will be evaluated based on the playability and overall design of their games. Science students' performance will be assessed on how they applied neuroplasticity concepts while English students will be judged on the clarity of their writing and the narrative quality of their dialogue within the games.

Alongside grading we will develop criteria focusing on teamwork communication skills and project management abilities. By setting these standards we aim to provide clear guidelines for evaluating interdisciplinary work. I also recommend incorporating peer feedback sessions and playtesting of game prototypes to enhance project quality. Platforms ike Discord for students to offer feedback on each others games can facilitate a development process.

Insights, on Combining Learning Methods

This project aims to introduce a blend of learning methods by combining gaming elements with in person coding workshops and testing environments. Leveraging tools such as CANVAS(LMS) will expand learning opportunities outside classroom settings while still providing structure through in person interactions.

For educators who are new to integrating offline teaching I recommend starting with small steps and focusing on activities that are enhanced by digital tools, such as simulations, interactive stories and creative projects. Gradually developing skills among both teachers and students is essential. Embracing an approach by testing lessons and refining them based on feedback is key.

It is crucial to consider technology as a means to achieve learning objectives than an end in itself. Human interaction and collaboration should remain central in a learning environment. Thoughtfully implementing models can broaden students access to learning opportunities by adhering to pedagogical principles.

Lessons Learned from an Innovative Perspective

While leading an initiative can be fulfilling it also presents challenges. Dealing with skeptics of methods and addressing issues have taught me valuable lessons about undertaking large scale projects, like this within public high schools. One important takeaway is the significance of forming a team of individuals who share the projects vision to address challenges effectively along the way.

To begin it's best to kick off with pilot initiatives to gather feedback and data that can support the case for implementation.

Embracing challenges as opportunities, for growth is key. Taking on setbacks with a mindset geared towards growth sees them as parts of the innovation journey rather than outright failures. By staying persistent, adaptable and solution oriented, educators can positively transform their methods over time. Sharing experiences and insights aims to inspire others to embark on their playful educational endeavors that captivate students.