Make a game

Students use their problem solving skills and create game where the player needs problem solving skills and for example Math skills.

Submitted by: Piia Martikainen

Updated: June 14, 2018

Learning objectives

Students learn problem solving skills.

Students need their creativity to create interesting games.

If they do the game in small groups students learn collaboration.

  1. Discuss what does good game consists of?
    1. Is it puzzle? Labyrint? Quiz?
    2. Do you need to find some keys/ codes that moves you on?
    3. Must there be limits?
    4. What kind of difficult level is the best?
    5. Are surprise elements good or bad?
  2. Draw mind map about students answers.
  3. Define the frames for the games with the students:
    1. Who is the target audience?
    2. What's the purpose of the game: do they need to get to the finish line, solve some code, survive in different kind of rooms etc.
    3. What do they need to build?
    4. Is it a leaning game where you need for example Math skills or is it all about problem solving. (for example 4*4 is a) 16 b) 15 c) 14 -> player need to push right button that opens the door. If the answer is right, player will move on, if it's wrong he'll drops down and need to find the way back in a labyrinth.)
    5. How big you want the game area to be?
    6. When is the game over/ finished?
  4. Students draw and write down (for example in Onenote) their ideas and drafts about the game.
  5. Students create their own world (the kind of which is the best for their plans).
    1. If the game is related to for example to Math make sure the Problems are enough difficult.
  6. When the games are made, they play each others games and give feedback.
  7.  Students make repairs on the base of feedback.
  8. Optional: Students let other classes play their games.
  9. Optional: Students make a video of the game how to solve the problems.

  • Students create their own world and build their game in it.
  • This activity takes at least eight lessons. It depends on how big/ multilevel games they are planning.
    • 1-2 lessons for planning and drawing the ideas to Onenote (or paper).
    • 6-7 lessons (at least) for building the game
    • 1-2 lessons for playing/ feedback
  • If they build the game with another student they need to share the world.
  • Students play games and give feedback to each other.
Students can make a video themselves playing the game through.    

When students give to each other feedback,  it's assessment. The game creator will improve the game based on the constructive feedback.  

Skills

  • Collaboration
  • Creativity
  • Critical thinking