Course Calendar
Introduction to Transformative Game Design: Course Calendar
- For detailed requirements for assignments, see the Schedule & Instructions link.
- All assignments are due the end class on the day assigned, i.e. Mondays at 11:59pm in your time zone. When possible, please post the night before to make sure your peers have time to comment upon your posts.
- Discussions and Journals marked as Optional for Pass are recommended to skip if you want to go for a Pass instead of a Pass with Distinction. You will still be required to examine the homework materials leading up to those assignments.
Week 1 – Unit 1
Monday
Introducing Yourself and Connecting with Your Peers
Activities:
- Complete Orientation Quiz by 11:59pm in your time zone.
- Choose a playtest group based on times available under Groups.
- Post an introduction to your small group.
- Organize a playtest session with your group.
- Complete Discussion 1: Introduction by 11:59pm in your time zone.
- This post is your introduction to the entire class.
- Reply to the initial posts of at least two of your peers in Ask a Question, Answer a Question format for every discussion forum.
Homework:
- Read Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 1: A Brief Introduction to Role-playing Games and Cousin Activities” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Sarah Lynne Bowman’s “Introduction to Tabletop Role-playing Games” and “Introduction to Larp.”
Wednesday
Introduction to Role-playing Games
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 2: Introduction to Role-playing Games by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read Sections 2.1-2.6 until the end of “Populations Overview” of Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 2: Transformative Role-playing Games: Types, Purposes, and Features” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Optional: Watch Sarah Lynne Bowman’s “Introduction to Transformative Role-playing Games.”
Friday
This Course and You
Activities:
- Complete Reflection Journal 1: This Course and You by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Review the selections from #Feminism.
- Choose one (1) scenario to playtest with your group.
- Watch “Safety in Role-playing Games I: Introduction” and “Safety in Role playing Games Part III: During the Game” by Sarah Lynne Bowman.
- Play the game with your group with these safety strategies in mind. Select at least one (1) safety mechanic to use during the game.
Week 2 – Units 1, 2 & 3
Monday – Units 1 & 2
Introduction to Transformative Game Design
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 3: Introduction to Transformative Game Design by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read Jonaya Kemper’s “Wyrding the Self.”
- Read Section 2.7 “Our Model of Transformative Game Design” of Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 2: Transformative Role-playing Games: Types, Purposes, and Features” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
Wednesday – Unit 2
#Feminism playtest
Activities:
- Complete Playtest 1: #Feminism by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read sections 3.1-3.5 until the end of “Mechanisms of Transformation” of Diakolambrianou et al.’s “Chapter 3: Theory, Central Concepts, and Inspirational Materials” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
Friday – Units 2 & 3
Transformative Leisure Games
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 4: Transformative Leisure Games by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Watch “New World Magischola – Short Documentary” and “Yes-and video.”
- Review the instructions for Major Assignment 1.
- Start work on Major Assignment 1: Transformative Game Design Proposal.
Week 3 – Units 3 & 4
Monday – Unit 3
Transformative Game Design Brainstorming and Feedback
Activities:
- Optional for Pass: Complete Discussion 5: Transformative Game Design Brainstorming and Feedback by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read Section 3.7-3.8 until the end of “Theories of Interaction” in “Chapter 3: Theory, Central Concepts, and Inspirational Materials” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Mometrix Academy’s “Counselor: Basic Skills of a Counselor.”
- Optional: Watch Elektra Diakolambrianou’s “Psychotherapeutic Applications of Role-playing.”
- Continue work on Major Assignment 1: Transformative Game Design Proposal.
Wednesday – Unit 3 & 4
Therapeutic Role-playing Games
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 6: Therapeutic Role-playing Games by 11:59pm in your time zones.
Homework:
- Continue work on Major Assignment 1: Transformative Game Design Proposal.
Friday – Unit 4
Transformative Game Design Proposal
Activities:
- Submit Major Assignment 1: Transformative Game Design Proposal by 11:59pm in your time zone.
- Review the instructions for Game Design Document and Playtest Plan.
- Schedule Playtest 2: Your Transformative Game Design with your group.
Homework:
- Read Section 3.9 “Educational Theories” in Diakolambrianou et al.’s “Chapter 3: Theory, Central Concepts, and Inspirational Materials” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Josefin Westborg’s “Introduction to Learning Theories,” “Role-playing Games for Education,” and “Learning in Praxis.”
- Choose one (1) video from Westborg’s series on Learning Theories under Recommended Materials to watch.
- Start work on Game Design Document and Playtest Plan.
Week 4 – Units 4 & 5
Monday – Units 4 & 5
Educational Theories
Activities:
- Complete by Discussion 7: Educational Theories 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read “7.4a: Research Through Design” from Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 7: Research in Transformative Game Design” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Choose one (1) item from the Research Through Design Method list to examine.
- Watch Josefin Westborg’s “Playtesting” and “How to Be a Good Playtester.”
Wednesday – Unit 5
Research Through Design
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 8: Research Through Design by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read all sections until the end of “4.3: Design Tools” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 4: Practice: Transformative Role-playing Game Design and Research” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Josefin Westborg’s “Basic Design.”
Friday – Unit 5
Writing Workshop
Activities:
- Optional: Visit the Language Workshop for academic writing assistance when appointments are available (if needed).
Homework:
- Read Martin Nielsen and Martin Andresen’s “The Mixing Desk of Larp.”
- Continue work on Game Design Document and Playtest Plan.
Week 5 – Units 5 & 6
Monday – Unit 5
Game Design Document and Playtest Plan
Activities:
- Submit Game Design Document and Playtest Plan by 11:59pm in your time zone.
- Read Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design instructions.
Homework:
- Watch Josefin Westborg’s “Design Restrictions” and “Transformative Game Design: Worked Example.”
- Begin work on the first part of Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design, informed by Major Assignment 1 and your Game Design Document.
Wednesday – Unit 5
Role-Playing Game Design and You
Activities:
- Complete Reflection Journal 2: Role-Playing Game Design and You by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Continue work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Friday – Unit 5 & 6
Playtest 2: Your Transformative Game Design
Activities:
- Complete Playtest 2: Your Transformative Game Design by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 7: Research in Transformative Game Design” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Jessica Liu’s “Develop a Theoretical Framework in 3 Steps | Scribbr.”
- Read Laurel Nesbitt’s “The Toulmin Method.”
- Continue work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Week 6 – Units 6 & 7
Monday – Unit 6
Academic Writing
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 9: Academic Writing — Argument by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read sections 6.1-6.4 until the end of “Symbolism” in “Chapter 6: Key Concepts, Techniques, and Purposes for Transformative Role-playing Game Design” Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Read Whitney Beltrán’s “Yearning for the Hero Within: Live Action Role-Playing as Engagement with Mythical Archetypes.”
- Continue work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Wednesday – Unit 6
Ritual, Myth, and Symbolism
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 10: Ritual, Myth, and Symbolism by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Continue work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Friday – Unit 7
Writing Day
Activities:
- Work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Homework:
- Continue work on Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design.
Week 7 – Unit 7 & 8
Monday – Unit 7
Academic Writing in Practice
Activities:
- Submit First Complete Draft of Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design by 11:59pm in your time zone.
- Send your First Complete Draft over email to your playtest group for peer review.
- Read the Peer Review Instructions for Major Assignment 2.
Homework:
- Read Section 6.6 “Culture in RPGs and Communities” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 6: Key Concepts, Techniques, and Purposes for Transformative Role-playing Game Design” Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Watch Alexandra Schreiber’s “Games and Play for Intercultural Learning” (10 min).
- Work on Peer Reviews for Major Assignment 2, sending your feedback as soon as it is ready.
Wednesday – Unit 7
Culture and RPGs
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 11: Culture and RPGS by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Choose one (1) of the following resources to examine: Leonard, Janjetovic, and Usman’s “Playing to Experience Marginalization: Benefits and Drawbacks of ‘Dark Tourism’ in Larp” (reading) or Leonard’s “Playing for Pain: Benefits, Pitfalls, & Strategies for RPing Marginalized Characters” (video).
Friday – Units 7 & 8
Work on Peer Reviews
Activities:
- Work on Peer Reviews for Major Assignment 2, sending your feedback as soon as it is ready.
Homework:
- Read Section 6.7 “Conflict in RPGs and Communities” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 6: Key Concepts, Techniques, and Purposes for Transformative Role-playing Game Design” of Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Week 8 – Units 7 & 8
Monday – Units 7 & 8
Conflict and RPGs
Activities:
- Complete Discussion 12: Conflict and RPGs by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Read 5.1-5.5 until the end of “Core Components of Safety” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 5: Safety and Community Container Setting” of Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Work on Peer Reviews for Major Assignment 2, sending your feedback as soon as it is ready.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Wednesday – Unit 8
Work on Peer Reviews
Homework:
- Read the rest of Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 5: Safety and Community Container Setting” of Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Read Section 6.5 “Narrative and Postmodern Magic” in Bowman et al.’s “Chapter 6: Key Concepts, Techniques, and Purposes for Transformative Role-playing Game Design” of Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Work on Peer Reviews for Major Assignment 2, sending your feedback as soon as it is ready.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Friday – Unit 8
Safety in RPGs
Activities:
- Complete Reflection Journal 3: Safety in RPGs by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Choose one (1) of the following to examine: Josephine Baird’s “Role-playing the Self: Trans Self-Expression, Exploration, and Embodiment in (Live Action) Role-playing Games” (reading) or Baird’s “Designing for Trans & Nonbinary Experiences & Exploration in Larps.”
- Work on Peer Reviews for Major Assignment 2, sending your feedback as soon as it is ready.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Week 9 – Units 8 & 9
Monday – Unit 8
Complete Peer Reviews
Activities:
- Submit one to three (1-3) Peer Reviews by 11:59pm in your time zone. See instructions for more details.
- Send your peer review(s) to your group members over email.
- Schedule an appointment with Uppsala University’s Language Workshop for academic writing assistance (if needed).
Homework:
- Read Section 3.6 on “Identity Theories” in Diakolambrianou et al.’s “Chapter 3: Theory, Central Concepts, and Inspirational Materials” in Transformative Role-playing Game Design.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Wednesday – Units 8 & 9
Role-playing, Identity, and You
Activities:
- Complete Reflection Journal 4: Role-playing, Identity, and You by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Watch the first 28 minutes of Taisto Suominen’s “Game Technologies in Larp and Tabletop RPGs — Taisto Suominen” until the end of the section on augmented reality.
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Friday – Unit 9
Game Technologies in Larp and Tabletop RPGs
Activities:
- Optional for Pass: Complete Discussion 13: Game Technologies in Larp and Tabletop RPGs by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Week 10 – Unit 10
Monday
Transformative Game Design and You
Activities:
- Complete Reflection Journal 5: Transformative Game Design and You by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Homework:
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Wednesday
Writing Workshop
Activities:
- Visit the Language Workshop for academic writing assistance when appointments are available (if needed).
Homework:
- Revise your Major Assignment 2 according to peer and instructor feedback (when available).
Friday
Transformative Game Design and You
Activities:
- Submit Final Draft of Major Assignment 2: Transformative Game Design by 11:59pm in your time zone.
Course schedule is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor(s). Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester.