Learning Objectives and Success Criteria

Introduction to Transformative Game Design

On successful completion of Introduction to Transformative Game Design, the student should be able to:

Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
Use Game Play, Design, and Playtesting: Design, play, iterate, and critique transformative analog games that have specific growth-related goals.
Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.

Please see below for specific Learning Objectives and Success Criteria for each type of assignment:

Discussion Boards Assignments: You are expected to participate in each discussion assignment, including your initial posts and posts to the required number of peers throughout the week in Ask a Question, Answer a Question format.
- Learning Objective 1 — Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete your initial posts answering all questions thoroughly. Reply to at least two (2) initial posts of your peers throughout the week in Ask a Question, Answer a Question format.

Reflection Journal Assignments: You are also expected to complete Reflection Journals at the end of each Unit. Note that only your instructors and you can see your journals.
- Learning Objective 1 — Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete your journals answering all questions thoroughly.

Major Assignment 1 — Transformative Game Design Proposal: You will write a paper for your transformative game design project, due at the end of Unit 3. You will cite three (3) concepts from three different sources within the course in Chicago Author-Date format or another citation style of your choice. Note that citations must be consistent and correct according to the style guide.
- Learning Objective 1 — Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
- Learning Objective 2 — Use Game Play, Design, and Playtesting: Design, play, iterate, and critique transformative analog games that have specific growth-related goals.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete your proposal in the required format with the minimum number of sources included and cited properly.

Game Design Document and Playtest Plan: These documents should contain all the instructions for your nano-game that facilitators and participants need to play, as well as your plans for playtesting and receiving feedback.
- Learning Objective 2 — Use Game Play, Design, and Playtesting: Design, play, iterate, and critique transformative analog games that have specific growth-related goals.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete your Game Design Document and Playtest Plan in the required format.

Major Assignment 2 — Transformative Game Design: You will compose an academic article using Research Through Design as a method based upon your process of designing, playtesting, and analyzing the results of your nanogame. You will submit a complete first draft for peer feedback, then revise your assignment based upon these comments for your final submission at the end of the course. Your assignment should cite at least one (1) source on Research Through Design as a method, as well as at least three (3) additional sources from the course in Chicago Author-Date format or another citation style of your choice. Note that citations must be consistent and correct according to the style guide.
- Learning Objective 1 — Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
- Learning Objective 2 — Use Game Play, Design, and Playtesting: Design, play, iterate, and critique transformative analog games that have specific growth-related goals.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete your paper in the required format with each section. Include the minimum number of sources included and cited properly.

Peer Feedback — Transformative Game Design: You will read the first complete draft of Major Assignment 3 for one to three (1-3) of your peers and respond to the required feedback questions to help them improve their work.
- Learning Objective 1 — Show Knowledge of the Field: Discuss topics, themes, and theories related to transformative analog game design, role-playing game studies, and other interdisciplinary fields.
- Learning Objective 3 — Perform Academic, Professional, and Reflective Writing: Compose written texts and other communication materials on transformative analog game design in various formats for distinct audiences.
- Success Criteria: Complete responses to each required question on the prompt in response to the drafts of each member of your group.