The Role of Narrative in the Design of an Educational Game

• In Event: Roundtable Session 41
  In Roundtable Session: Influences in Using Digital Media: Narratives, Attitudes, and Educational Apps

Abstract

This is a study of narrative design for an educational video game. Narrative is a significant facilitator of learning, yet remains under-researched. Educators are in need of tools that foster 21st century learning skills. Educational games with narrative show potential in meeting this need. Yet, before the effectiveness of educational video games can be understood, we must learn to create them more skillfully. This session reports on a case study about designers’ perceptions and uses of narrative in the context of creating Citizen Science, a lake science educational video game. Findings such as a typology of narrative design principles will be discussed, with the aim to support future design efforts in the field.

Author

• Christopher Carl Blakesley, University of Wisconsin - Madison