Course Reflection: Designing Games for Learning (LT-7384)
What a semester it truly has been. Over the past sixteen weeks in LT-7384, I have spent a significant amount of time not just designing games for learning, but learning how to think like a game designer. This course consistently pushed me to move beyond ideas on paper and into systems, mechanics and experiences that support learning through play. Just as important, I was required to document nearly every step of that process, which helped me slow down, reflect, and make intentional design decisions rather than rushing toward a finished product. Throughout the semester, there were both strong successes and real challenges. One of the positives was how much my design thinking evolved. Early on, I tended to focus heavily on narrative and theme. While those elements are still important to me, I learned quickly that strong learning games depend on clear systems, feedback loops and player agency. On the challenging side, translating written rules and learning ob...
