Design-Researching Gamestar Mechanic: Integrating Sound Learning Theory into a Game about Game Design

Introduction

This chapter presents the results of a three-year design research study of Gamestar Mechanic, a project’s whose goal has been to produce, deploy, and assess a game-based learning environment intended to foster the adoption by middle school children of a designer mindset. Such a mindset involves a set of language and literacy skills involving digital media that a growing number of scholars recognize as fundamental to learners in the 21^st century (New London Group, 1996; Perkins, 1995; diSessa, 2002; Partnership for 21^st Century Skills, 2006). The game aims to achieve its curricular goals through an online multiplayer role-playing game experience that places learners in the role of game designers (Games, 2008; Salen, 2007).

The chapter begins by presenting the background of the project, its initial aims and the learning theory upon which it was built. It then presents the design research methodology used in its production, and discusses how the core findings in each of three research phases contributed to its improvement as a game-based learning environment. It concludes with a discussion of its implications for learners outside of games, and for educational practice.