Using course opportunities for learning game design

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to share the authors’ perspectives as members of a research-based course project focused on learning game design and development. The authors provide important aspects of their findings as usable knowledge in the form of implications for potential use in new contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a case study of one instance of a course-based structured learning opportunity. The authors chose to interview each other about various aspects of the course structure and its affordances and constraints for creating an effective and supportive learning environment.

Findings

The paper provides findings as implications for potential transfer to new contexts. As considerations for engendering the type of learning the authors promote, they share much of the interview responses in an effort to not only contextualize their perspectives but also identify important aspects for similar projects.

Research limitations/implications

As a single case, the authors focus on areas of transferability rather than generalizability. With more cases, they could build the list of important aspects, but with this individual case, they can simply share the ideas they find most salient from their work.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for those interested in creating similar opportunities that combine undergraduate research projects and coursework to enhance students’ ability to pursue individual interests typically not found in traditional course models.

Originality/value

This paper provides an example of a non-traditional opportunity for learning as a potential model for others.

Citation

Boyer, D.M. and Smith, J.E. (2016), "Using course opportunities for learning game design", On the Horizon, Vol. 24 No. 1, pp. 104-111. https://doi.org/10.1108/OTH-08-2015-0039