Preparing my gaming and education class for spring 2024

Posted on December 27, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

Next month I’m starting one of my favorite classes, and I wanted to share the draft syllabus with you all. It’s the gaming and higher education seminar for Georgetown University’s Learning, Design, and Technology program and I’m very excited about it.

The focus is, as you might expect, on the productive intersection of gaming with colleges and universities. The semester explores this connection through a range of gaming types, including tabletop, role playing, and digital games. I encourage each student to bring their individual and professional interests to the class, applying them to shape research and a final project.

Structurally, the seminar is a mix of discussion, mini-lectures, and hands-on work during sessions, plus scholarly readings, Canvas writing, and project work in between classes. Every week students play at least one game, read and discuss scholarly writing, and try their hand at making some gaming for education content.

An exhibit at the Strong National Museum of Play

Students play a major role in cocreating the seminar, as with most of my classes. Discussion is key, of course, since its a seminar. Their experience of playing games is important material for learning. They get to determine one week’s topic. And I’ll shape presentations and lead discussions…