Needs to be something you like, are passionate about.
Can be created around an existing unit
Borrow theme ideas from the world around you
Characters
Who will your characters be?
What role will your students play?
Heroes? Villains?
Will the characters be in groups? Houses? Crews? Guilds?
Action
There are two types of action in your game:
The overarching goal for your class/game. What is the end game?
Smaller, quick challenges.
Setting
The location and backdrop for the action in your story.
Game Mechanics
Game mechanics drive your game and can work together to create a custom experience for your class. Not all game mechanics are required to have in a game. Some are easier to implement at first while others can be added later. Don't feel like you have to have it ALL figured out right now!
"Your goal as a good game designer is to provide a rich game world that includes something for everyone"
~Michael Matera
Onboarding 9:30am
Getting your players into your game world and familiarizing them with your game and all it's possibilities. It's time to get your students EXCITED about the game and the adventure that lies ahead!
What part of the backstory of your game will you reveal?
How will you present the game to your students? A video, a costume, decorations, a powerpoint, music?
What will be their role? How will you present that to them?
What will their first task be? Get the game going but don't give everything away!
What do your students NEED to know to get started? What can you leave out?
What rules of the game are imperative right now?
What kind of team-building activities could you do to help the groups to bond?
Plan for roll out?
Go back to your Planning Doc and add your ideas.
Space Camp
Experience Points (XP)
10:15am
Experience Points or XP is a unit of measurement used in role-playing games to quantify a player/character's progression through the game. Through the earning of more XP, players can gain power, status, and level up.
Will your students start at 0?
How long will it take them to level up?
What will you offer XP for?
Will you offer XP for individuals, groups, or both?
Will you use a leaderboard or collect XP at the end of the unit or quarter?
Go back to your Planning Doc and add your ideas.
Levels 10:45am
Levels indicate a player's position or rank.
Will your levels represent where a player is in the game?
Or will your levels be used in conjunction with your XP?
If they are used with XP, how much XP must they earn to get to the next level?
What will the levels be called?
How many levels will you offer?
Any ideas on what players will gain or privileges each level will have?
Go back to your Planning Doc and add your ideas.
Break 11:15am
Leaderboards 11:30am
Leaderboards show the standings for players or groups in the game.
Will you have a leaderboard?
Will it be individual, by group, or both?
Will you display it in the class, use a digital leaderboard, or both?
How might you manage it so as not to allow for the leaderboard to get students down about their standing?
Will you reset after a unit, quarter, or the year?
Go back to your Planning Doc and add your ideas.
Michael Matera offers a FANTASTIC leaderboard (among a million other things) in his New World Mega Pack. He spent hundreds of hours setting this up so you don't have to!
I have not even scratched the surface of what his products can do but I can tell you that it was 100% worth the money!
Room 9 2017-18
Lunch 12-1:00pm
Guilds 1:15pm
Guilds are small groups of people that can be formed for any reason. Encourages teamwork and collaboration.
What will you call your groups?
Ideas: Crews, Houses, Districts, Factions, Clans, Families, etc.
Will they be student made or teacher made? Or could this change throughout the year?
How long will they be in the group?
Will there be opportunities to switch groups?
Will there be some sort of banner or physical sign that shows groupings?
Go back to your Planning Doc and add your ideas.
Mini Game Break 1:45
Spot It
Achievements 2:00pm
Achievements are anything that is unlocked through gameplay. Achievements could be anything from a secret level to additional powers to badges.
Will there be a fork in the road? A choice of paths?
Do students have to do something to unlock the next level or achieve a certain amount of XP?
What tasks might students do to earn badges?
How often will students be able to earn badges?
What kind of badges will you have? Physical or digital?