Meeting 1: Brainstorm Ideas

Meeting 1
   Brainstorming Ideas

Before even attempting to determine what we need to successfully build a game/the game, we needed to first figure out what we think could/will work.

Upon reevaluation of the problem at hand - the thing we zeroed in on was the fact that there was a high drop-out rate.

While it's obviously unclear why... We drew up a few scenarios of what may have happened so we can go from there...

• Due to the main age group being 24 to 55; most of the target audience are working. After work, its usually more common/motivating for most people to relax instead of reading 3 documents that are pages long... unless they really really do want to get it done.
• The website is a little bit plain which paired with the pages of documents to read... may seem a little boring if they do it day-in day-out. This may be why people may have started out well but then slumped, given a reminder - start out again then slump
• Decision to do this was an impulse decision but was never really followed up on  

The main underlying problem can be said to be lack of motivation. Not many are disciplined enough to keep it going.

We tossed up several ideas and listed what we thought of each individual idea 

• A Unity Game/Downloadable Game
• We didn't like this idea as much... especially due to the fact most people won't go through the trouble of downloading games (in some cases multiple games). It's also a bit too much we think... (at this point)

•  An Integrated Gamification of the Learning System
• Mostly inspired through a xTED talk by Chris Haskell. While a system used for children, he talked about a successful system based on "goal-based objectives and mechanism" to promote curiosity and creativity.
  
  It's based on a Quest-Based System that allows people to choose what they want to study when they study it. While we understand this is already implemented, we think it can be improved and emphasized on further.
  
  Players will be rewarded while working on a goal and is fairly simple to implement. This will play on their motivation and help them stay on task to continue their education.
  

 

•  Flash Game/Side-Game
• This will be a game that will sit in the browser similar to some of the many Facebook Games like "Farmville". There are many ways to go from this, 
• Activities like those listed below could probably be gamified as a form as additional interactivity. As a "Practical" that looks more interesting than another button on the page

 

•  Some modules can be made into a big game where the user (for example) be put in a practical situation where the follow skills will be needed.
  The player will be given options on how to proceed/how they want to proceed and watch the consequences or what happens with each decision they make
  This way they can learn practically and in a more involving and interactive way rather than simply reading off a page.

• Mobile Game
• Not the most ideal solution unless most people use Mobiles to access QUT Connect. Most people will likely won't download an additional app on their phones.
• If... people do... the game will have to be able to teach them the content but even then... it may draw people away from the site (where the assessment is)

We decided (based on the factor of motivation) decided that either the integrating gamification of the learning system or the Flash Game will probably be the best and/or most effective to move forward with to help the client.