Play to Learn: Everything You Need to Know About Designing Effective Learning Games

by Sharon Boller, Karl M. Kapp

When trainers use games, learners win big.

As a trainer interested in game design, you know that games are more effective than lectures. You've seen firsthand how immersive games hold learners' interest, helping them explore new skills and experience different points of view.

But how do you become the Milton Bradley of learning games? Play to Learn is here to help.

This book bridges the gap between instructional design and game design; it's written to grow your game literacy and strengthen crucial game design skills. Experts Sharon Boller and Karl Kapp share real examples of in-person and online games, and offer an online game for you to try as you read. They walk you through evaluating entertainment and learning games, so you can apply the best to your own designs.

Play to Learn will also show you how

Genres: Nonfiction, Game Design, Academic, Technology, Education

168 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2017

Reviews

[Sylvie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read on how to build a learning game. It is great for beginners because it pin points those aspects that should be considered first and the possible mistakes most beginners make when creating their first learning game. I took lots of notes and I plan to revise them while working on my first learning game.

[Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything we sing, read, learn and wear is part of a fad. Training is no different. When organizational development is faced with a generation who likes to learn through games, organizational development turns to trainers to use games to make learning interesting.

For years, I've been a "different" corporate trainer. I create my own classes, using humor, stories, and class engagement to teach. It works for me.

Now that the gamification of training has arrived, I can cringe at the nomenclature, but I celebrate the bringing of fun into the classroom. The book starts carefully, introducing different gaming elements and then helping instructors include them in exercises and approaches to learning.

A good book that should be on the resource shelf of every instructional designer.

[Dimitri · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book you can find a brilliant design process:

1. Choose a game goal
2. Selecting a game mechanic
3. Determine Theme and Story
4. Cooperative or Competitive

My highlights: https://learning.oreilly.com/u/748020...

[Stan Skrabut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Boller and Karl Kapp have packed a wealth of information into their book, Play to Learn: Everything You Need to Know About Designing Effective Learning Games . This book is about creating learning games. It provides a step-by-step reference from idea conception to actual deployment and evaluation. I picked this book up at the Association for Talent Development Conference. I chose this book because I am a fan of game-based learning and gamification. Additionally, I had seen Karl Kapp speak before and I am a fan of his research. Read more