Designing Educational Games and Learning Simulations

Games and simulations are incredibly powerful tools for education, but creating ones that actually teach requires more than just adding points and badges. To build truly impactful educational experiences, you must understand how gameplay mechanics and learning objectives work together. This text-only course guides you through the foundational principles of educational game design, helping you transform complex instructional concepts into engaging, interactive simulation models. What you'll learn: - Understand the core theories of game-based learning and simulation design. - Define clear educational goals and map them directly to interactive gameplay mechanics. - Design feedback loops and player choices that reinforce learning outcomes. - Apply modern accessibility practices to ensure your educational games are inclusive. - Create paper prototypes and written design documents to test your ideas early. - Measure player engagement and educational efficacy through structured assessment design. You will start by exploring key terminology and the foundational psychology of play before moving on to practical game design frameworks, player motivation strategies, and step-by-step written prototyping techniques. Designed specifically for beginners, this course requires no prior coding, programming, or graphic design experience. Start reading today to unlock the potential of play-based learning.