Authors:
Simone Hausknecht
;
Fan Zhang
;
Julija Jeremic
;
Hollis Owens
and
David Kaufman
Affiliation:
Simon Fraser University, Canada
Keyword(s):
Game Design, Older Adults, User-Centered Design, Collaborative Learning.
Related
Ontology
Subjects/Areas/Topics:
Active Learning
;
Computer-Supported Education
;
Course Design and e-Learning Curriculae
;
e-Learning
;
Game-Based and Simulation-Based Learning
;
Learning/Teaching Methodologies and Assessment
;
Pattern Recognition
;
Social Context and Learning Environments
;
Theory and Methods
Abstract:
A collaborative team of game design students, instructors, researchers, and older adults worked together to
create educational digital games for older adults. A user-centered design approach was utilized in which the
needs, desires, and limitations of the end users were taken into consideration at all stages. Collaboration
occurred among researchers, instructors, student-designers, and older adults to create several enjoyable
interactive learning games. The current paper examines one of the game development team’s process through
the nine-month course. The data included team observations, feedback from older adults, and a focus group
with the team members at the end of the project. The results suggest that the process of requiring young
students in their 20s to design for older adults challenged them to think creatively and expand their
understandings.