What comes to mind when I mention the term, "assessment?" Do thoughts of No. 2 pencils, scantrons, and endless hours of sitting come to mind? Same here! Whether you're an educator or student you're likely to cringe at the thought of standardized tests, and rightfully so when such exams, at best, measure a student's ability to take a test or the learner's socioeconomic status. What if there was another way?
To me, a learner who once internalized the education system's assessment of my abilities, the most exciting aspect of game-based learning (aside from getting to play games, of course) is how well scores act as a built-in assessment mechanism for learners and educators. When done correctly, game-based learning can provide just-in-time feedback, intrinsic motivation, and individualization to receive a truer assessment of learner understanding.
During gameplay, scores don't feel akin to assessment yet that's exactly what's happening as learners accrue points, lose health, and gain experience. So, what are best practices for creating a scoring system for educational games? Let's take a deeper look.
1. Is game-based learning the right approach for learning?
Use the evidence-based principles of instructional design and learning science to help distinguish if a game is the correct delivery method for the learner and the learning. A needs assessment will help decipher this.
2. What is the player learning?
With the needs assessment done now, what are the learning objectives for the learner? The difference between a serious game and an educational one is the learning that happens — without this piece, you may find yourself creating an entertainment game rather than an educational one. How will you know if the learner is understanding the concepts? What feedback and analytics can be captured for the learner and educator to validate that learning is occurring?
To help you in creating your learning objectives and gameplay, consider the following as you design your serious game:
Scores and other game events, when designed using evidence-based, game-based learning principles, are analogous to learning analytics (Shute & Kim, 2014).
If a player is struggling, what information can be gathered during gameplay to bolster player support?