Understanding Students' Game Design: A Complexity Perspective

• In Event: 45.094 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Seven - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 45.094-3 - Innovations in Complexity Theory Applications

Abstract

This paper explores the conception of learning as a complex phenomenon and the design of learning environments with insights from complexity research. The design considerations from a complexity perspective are used to explore a classroom structure that invites students to collaborative design of games. We discuss our research on students' design of card/board games for their disciplinary and cross-disciplinary learning in a Western Canadian middle school. Our analysis highlights the variations in the students’ designed games while they rely on their available resources to construct and communicate individual and collective meanings. We argue that engaging students in the design of games provide the opportunities for them to experience and understand the complex and interdisciplinary nature of any school topics.

Authors

• Reyhaneh Bastani, University of Calgary

• Beaumie Kim, University of Calgary