Connected Learning Summit 2019

Steve Jobs famously said that realizing we can change and influence the world around us—realizing the importance of design—is perhaps the most important thing. In this workshop, we will introduce the concept of Design games, a playful approach to cultivating designerly thinking and creative collaboration that we developed as part of the NSF-funded Play in the Making project. Design games engage learners in collectively playing and modifying (or “fixing”) incomplete or unplayable analog games, with the goal of enhancing appreciation of games as designed objects, capacities as potential designers in a variety of settings, and the nature of design as a complex social activity. Design games are an alternative to involving learners in creating completely new games, a process that can often be too time-consuming or challenging for learners with little or no formal design experience. Design games can also be used as an introduction to design thinking, for example in maker environments, or as preparation for other game design activities, including the creation of digital games. In this session, we will present the concept of Design games, involve participants in playing a Design game, and demonstrate strategies for encouraging critical reflection on their Design game experience. Following this interactive experience, we will facilitate discussion of how Design games might be adapted for use in different educational settings for various purposes. We welcome educators with any level of experience to join us for a playful, team-oriented, and thought-provoking workshop.