United Colonies Alternate Reality Game
Instructional Design and Game Design, 2012-2013
Overview and Problem
During curriculum development for the PlayMaker School, we wanted to create a semester-long learning experience that was deeply immersive. We also wanted to embed curricular content into student-driven activities that required higher-order thinking and collaboration.
An alternate reality game (ARG) seemed like the perfect method, but turning an ARG into a functional educational game was a big challenge. Running this ARG alongside a typical classroom experience was an even bigger challenge. I was tasked with leading the learning design and implementation of this project.
Process and Solution
I partnered with award-winning designer Mike Minadeo to conceptualize, design, and run an ARG we called United Colonies. Mike served as the Creative Director, focusing on graphic and game design. My primary role, as the sole GameDesk contributor, was to align game design with the school’s learning goals. I was responsible for:
- Leading the learning design to ensure the game met curriculum goals
- Creating all video and web-based content for the game
- Advising on game design and mechanics
- Collaborating on the game structure, schedule, implementation, and logistics
Results and Impact
The project exceeded our wildest expectations and set a new template for immersive, game-based K-12 education.
- The student participants were so engaged that they created and ran their own ARG — entirely independently — for the next class of students the following year
- To date, United Colonies remains one of the most extensive K-12 ARGs ever executed and is especially notable for the documentary evidence of its impact on students and their ownership of learning
Selected Press Coverage
“How to Transform The Odyssey into an Epic Game in Alternate Reality in EducationWeek
