Courses — University XP

The Dark Side of Gamification

Gamification is supposed to be fun. That’s why businesses, organizations and individuals use it on a daily basis. Why else would someone play games? But what are the ethics of gamification? What stops one business or organization from doing something nefarious? Is there a limit to gamification? Should it be up to academics, the government, or individuals to police how gamification is used? Can you imagine a world dominated by the Black Mirror episode Nosedive? Join three gamers, designers, educators, and academics as they discuss a world where everyone you interact with is rated on a five star scale.

gamificationDave EngFebruary 22, 2021gamification, ethics, dataComment

Creating the Player Experience

The player experience is something that we all shoot for in design. That’s true whether we’re using games-based learning, gamification, serious games, or simulations. That’s because the player experience is what the player goes through when they play the game.

player experienceDave EngDecember 15, 2020game mechanics, player experience, meaningful choices, agency, funComment

Table Top Games for Online Learning

Games are powerful platforms for teaching, learning, training, and education. Table top games are especially powerful for engaging students in tangible and physical game worlds that they can see, and interact with, live and in-person.

games-based learning, online leanringDave EngOctober 27, 2020table top games, online learning, hanabi, codenames, just one, wavelengthComment

Climate Change and Games Panel

There are many ways in which individuals and communities can start to explore their own responsibilities and potential in relation to the climate crisis.

climate change, panelDave EngOctober 10, 2020climate change, climate crisis, panel, games-based learning, gamificationComment

Representation in Games

Games are mediums made for players. Though, there have been some challenges in designing games that are representative. Not just representative of their designers; but more representative of players around the world.

representationDave EngSeptember 12, 2020representation, gamesComment

Games for Learning

Games are powerful platforms for entertainment and engagement. But can you use games for learning? Turns out that you can! You just need to put games in the right hands and use the right structure. Games can be used to engage students; reinforce learning outcomes; and create enviable activities that promote achievement and mastery.

games, games-based learningDave EngAugust 18, 2020games, games-based learningComment

Gamification for Online Learning

Gamification is the use of game elements in non-game contexts. You can use games for learning. But where should you start? Where should you begin? Can you even use games for online learning? The answer is yes: there are a few elements of games that you can use for an online learning environment.

gamificationDave EngMay 28, 2020gamification, remote learningComment