Game-Based Learning
Instructor Guide
Game-Based Learning
Contents
Contents
DOCUMENT CHANGE HISTORY ........................................................................................................................3
UNDERSTANDING GAME-BASED LEARNING.....................................................................................................4
About Game-Based Learning ...............................................................................................................................4
How Game-Based Learning works with Brightspace Learning Environment .......................................................5
Understanding the Game-Based Learning Admin tool ........................................................................................8
Game-Based Learning platform requirements ..................................................................................................10
Game-Based Learning roles and permissions ....................................................................................................11
CREATING A GAME-BASED LEARNING MODULE.............................................................................................12
Designing a Game-Based Learning module .......................................................................................................12
Understanding activity types .............................................................................................................................13
Create a matching activity .................................................................................................................................17
Create a hotspot activity....................................................................................................................................18
Create a question and answer activity...............................................................................................................19
Create a sorting activity .....................................................................................................................................20
Create a branching scenario activity..................................................................................................................21
Create an embedded content activity ...............................................................................................................22
Understanding game maps ................................................................................................................................23
Create a game map ............................................................................................................................................24
Add a game map to a new course......................................................................................................................25
Publish a game map into a course .....................................................................................................................25
BEST PRACTICES FOR DESIGNING A GAME-BASED LEARNING MODULE..........................................................27
ABOUT D2L....................................................................................................................................................28
© 2017 by D2L Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Game-Based Learning
Document change history
Document change history
This version of the document replaces all previous versions. The following table describes the most recent changes to
this document.
Revision Date
Summary of Changes
February 2, 2017
Initial release.
© 2017 by D2L Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
About Game-Based Learning
Game-Based Learning is the use of games to enhance the learning experience.
Incorporating game-based mechanics, visual design, and thinking into a course can help organizations improve learner
motivation and engagement. Learners who are engaged are more inspired to succeed.
A highly interactive gaming experience is something that many learners are already comfortable with. They can
proceed at their own pace and get immediate feedback about their progress.
In a game-based environment, learners work towards a set goal. A risk-free setting encourages experimentation by
letting them choose their own actions. They can even repeat a step if they need to.
Instructors can determine the scope and depth of the gaming experience, implementing game-based learning that fits
unique needs and objectives.
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
How Game-Based Learning works with Brightspace Learning
Environment
A Game-Based Learning module consists of learning activities bundled into a game map, which is published into a
course in Brightspace Learning Environment.
Figure 1: A Game-Based Learning module in Brightspace Learning Environment
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
The gamification framework is focused on scores, achievements, and unlocks. Learners attempt various activities on a
single game map in an effort to unlock all of the available content. The system targets formative assessment and
challenges learners to demonstrate their knowledge, rather than perform a summative assessment. Each published
game map has an associated grade item, with a learner goal of achieving 100% on the grade item. Instructors can track
learner progress through the game map via the grade item. Instructors can also include achievements as learners
progress.
Figure 2: A Game-Based Learning module in a course
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
In the spirit of gaming, learners can personalize their learning experience by creating their own unique character (an
avatar) using the Avatar Editor. The avatar is visible when learners play the Game-Based Learning module and from a
GBL widget in Brightspace Learning Environment. The GBL widget allows learners to see their current score,
achievements earned in the game, and a course feed that tracks their progress against peers, introducing an element of
competition.
Figure 3: Player avatar for a Game-Based Learning module
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
Understanding the Game-Based Learning Admin tool
The Game-Based Learning Admin tool is launched via an LTI link in Brightspace Learning Environment, and allows you to
create, edit, delete, and preview learning activities and game maps.
Permissions in the Game-Based Learning Admin tool are managed by IMS configuration in Brightspace Learning
Environment. Administrators can view all activities and game maps created by instructors. Instructors can only view the
activities and game maps they create.
Figure 4: Game-Based Learning Admin tool
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
The content publishing component for the Game-Based Learning Workshop is a drag and drop form-based wizard that
allows instructors to create a custom look-and-feel to their game-based content, as well as create 6 unique activities.
Figure 5: Branching Scenario Wizard
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
No coding is required and you can apply a single GBL module to as many courses in Brightspace Learning Environment
as you want.
Figure 6: Applying a GBL module to multiple courses
Game-Based Learning platform requirements
The Game-Based Learning product and services are currently only available in U.S. English. D2L provides services for the
initial installation, setup, and training. Clients can purchase additional services to optimize their Game-Based Learning
module. For more information, contact your D2L Account Manager.
The GBL product is available to all three segments (Higher Education, K-12 and Corporate) where courses are delivered
by Brightspace Learning Environment 10.4 or higher.
For the Embedded Content activity, which allows publishing embedded objects into a game map, Brightspace Learning
Repository is required if you want to embed LOR objects. If Brightspace Learning Repository is not present, you can only
embed YouTube videos as embedded objects.
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Game-Based Learning
Understanding Game-Based Learning
Game-Based Learning roles and permissions
When Game-Based Learning is set up in your Brightspace instance, a new webapp role becomes available (under
Security in the Roles and Permissions tool). This role is created by D2L and is used by the GBL system to retrieve data
from the course; administrators do not log in with or use this role. The following org-only permissions are turned on by
default:
 See Roles and Permissions
 Manage Roles
 Manage Role Permissions
 Manage Password Policy
Important: The webapp role and its default permissions should not be modified. Doing so may alter the GBL
experience.
For the Game-Based Learning Workshop, there are two roles:
 The Administrator role can view all maps and activities created by administrators and instructors. They can publish
any GBL module to any course in Brightspace Learning Environment.
 The Instructor role is limited to viewing their own maps/activities. They can only publish their GBL modules to
courses that they are enrolled in or have access to in Brightspace Learning Environment.
All user management is performed in Brightspace Learning Environment.
GBL authenticates users using LTI links from Brightspace Learning Environment. To allow authentication, D2L must
enable the LTI integration with GBL. Separate authentication credentials are not required.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
Designing a Game-Based Learning module
To motivate and engage learners, D2L recommends considering the five stages of course gamification when designing
your Game-Based Learning module:
 Stage one: know your learners. To make sure your gamified course meets your learners’ needs, first analyze their
player types.
 Stage two: select game mechanics. Certain mechanics, like badges and leaderboards, align better with certain
player types. Some mechanics appeal to more than one player type.
 Stage three: design a game plan. Consider how your mechanics will work and how often learners will encounter
them. Badges are best used to engage learners who are extrinsically motivated.
 Stage four: create gamified content. Be creative and put your mechanics to work. Non-player character avatars
(NPCs) are a great way to advance your narrative.
 Stage five: play the game. It takes time and even a little trial and error to create a great gamified experience, but
these five simple steps are fundamental guidelines towards which all gamification effort should be built.
© 2017 by D2L Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
Understanding activity types
Learning activities are tasks that learners can perform in a Game-Based Learning module.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, you can create the following activity types and add them to a GBL module:
 Matching – An activity that challenges learners to categorize things. You create an activity where learners match or
categorize two sets of phrases. A matching activity has a one-to-one relationship with the answers, while a
categorization activity has a many-to-one relationship with them.
Figure 7: Matching activity
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Hotspot – An activity that challenges learners to identify an area of an image and answer follow-up questions
about it.
Figure 8: Hotspot activity
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Question and answer – An activity that challenges students to answer a series of multiple choice or all that apply
questions. You create a series of questions for your learners, choosing a set list of questions or a random number
from a greater pool.
Figure 9: Question and Answer activity
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Sorting – An activity that challenges learners to order or prioritize a set of images or words. You create an activity
where learners must arrange tiles or images into the correct order. This activity is good for memorizing the steps of
a process or a sequence of events.
Figure 10: Sorting activity
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Branching scenario – An activity that challenges learners to navigate a conversation or procedure, choosing the
best response.
Figure 11: Branching Scenario activity
 Embedded content – An activity which allows embedding of LOR objects, HTML content, videos, and documents.
When creating an activity, you can save your progress at any time, move back and forth between panels in the wizard,
and preview your activity.
Create a matching activity
To create a matching activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type a unique Activity Name, ensure that Matching is selected as the activity, and then click Save changes.
4.
Choose a Type:
 Matching (one-to-one)
 Categorizing (many-to-one)
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
5.
Click Next.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
6.
If you chose Matching (one-to-one), do the following:
1. From the Target panel, type a label in the Drop Text field for the Drop 1 target. For example, if the matching
activity is matching food sources to animals, the target label could be Bird (an animal).
To create a new target, click Add Drop and repeat the previous step, for example, Eagle.
2. From the Drag Items panel, type a label in the Drag Text field for the Drag 1 item. For example, if the matching
activity is matching food sources to animals, the drag label could be Grasshopper (a food source).
From the Target list, select the target that corresponds to the drag item, for example, Bird.
To create a new drag item, click Add Drag and repeat the previous step, for example, Snake.
7.
If you chose Categorizing (many-to-one), do the following:
1. From the Categories panel, type a label in the Drop Text field for the Drop 1 category. For example, if the
matching activity is categorizing animals that are predators, the category label could be Predators.
2. From the Drag Items panel, type a label in the Drag Text field for the Drag 1 item. For example, if the matching
activity is categorizing animals that are predators, the drag label could be Wolf.
From the Target list, select the category that corresponds to the drag item, for example, Predators. If the drag
item does not correspond to a category, select No Answer.
To create a new drag item, click Add Drag and repeat the previous step, for example, Mouse (drag text) and No
Answer (category).
8.
Click Next.
9.
Use the default action sounds provided or upload custom action sounds.
10. Click Preview Activity.
11. Test the activity.
12. Click Save and Close.
Create a hotspot activity
To create a hotspot activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type a unique Activity Name, select Hotspot as the activity, and then click Save changes.
4.
Click Next.
5.
From the Scene List, click Add Scene.
6.
Under Scene Instructions, type instructions for the learner. For example, In the picture, click sources of food for
carnivores and omnivores.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
7.
Under Upload Image, choose an image to use as a background for the Hotspot activity. For example, a background
image of a forest with various animals and plants.
8.
Under Staging Area, click Add Hotspot, and then drag the square onto the desired object in the image, resizing the
square as needed. For example, drag the square onto a deer in the image.
9.
With the hotspot selected in the image, click Add or Edit Question for Selected Area.
10. Type a Question / Instructions for the hotspot, and include a possible Answer, indicating if the answer is correct or
incorrect with a check mark or x. For example, Is a deer a source of food for carnivores? The correct answer is Yes.
To add a new choice, click Add Choice, for example, No.
11. Click Save and Close.
12. To add additional scenes, repeat the previous steps.
13. Click Next.
14. Use the default action sounds provided or upload custom action sounds.
15. Click Preview Activity.
16. Test the activity.
17. Click Save and Close.
Create a question and answer activity
To create a question and answer activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type a unique Activity Name, select Question and Answer as the activity, and then click Save changes.
4.
Click Next.
5.
Choose one of the following options:
 To randomize the order in which questions are posed to learners, enable the Randomize option.
 To set the number of questions asked from your question bank, specify a number.
6.
Click Next.
7.
From the Question List panel, click New to create a new question.
Note: By default, the following question types display in the Question List: Multiple Choice, All That Apply, True or
False and Fill in The Blank. View them as examples or modify them as needed.
8.
From the Question Details panel, do the following:
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 In the Prompt field, type the question posed to learners. For example, Which animals are carnivores?
 To indicate if learners type their response or select from a list of answers, turn the Typed option on or off.
For example, if the prompt is Which animals are carnivores? and you want learners to select from a list of
answers, turn Typed off.
9.
Under Choose an Image, you can optionally specify an image to accompany the question. For example, you could
include an image of different types of animals to help learners better understand the question.
10. Click Add New Response.
11. Click New Response, and then add the following:
 Distractor specifies the answer that a learner may choose or type. For example, Hawks.
 Feedback Text specifies the feedback presented to the learner when they choose this response. For
example, Correct. Great job!
 Depending on the answer, toggle the Correct or Incorrect buttons.
12. To add more responses or create new questions, repeat the previous steps.
13. Click Next.
14. Use the default action sounds provided or upload custom action sounds.
15. Click Preview Activity.
16. Test the activity.
17. Click Save and Close.
Create a sorting activity
To create a sorting activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type a unique Activity Name, select Sorting as the activity, and then click Save changes.
4.
Click Next.
5.
In the Prompt field, type brief instructions for the activity. For example, Sort the animals in the order that they are
consumed by other animals.
6.
Click Next.
7.
Click Add New Sortable Item.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
8.
Under Image Upload, choose an image representing the item learners must sort. For example, an image of a
mouse.
9.
Optionally, in the Thumbnail Text field, add some descriptive text to the image. For example, mouse.
10. In the Description Text field, add text to describe the image for learners. For example, A mouse is a small animal
that eats plants and nuts.
11. To add more sortable items, repeat the previous steps.
12. After creating all of your sortable items, arrange them in the correct order in the Sortable Items panel. When the
learner performs the activity, the sortable items are sorted in random order.
13. Click Next.
14. Use the default action sounds provided or upload custom action sounds.
15. Click Preview Activity.
16. Test the activity.
17. Click Save and Close.
Create a branching scenario activity
To create a branching scenario activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type an Activity Name, select Branching Scenario as the activity, and then click Save changes.
4.
Click Next.
5.
From the Character Image panel, specify the following:
 Default Background Image is the default background image that learners see in the activity, for example,
an image of a forest.
 Default Avatar Image is the default character speaking to the learner or the object relevant to the question,
for example, an image of a park ranger.
6.
Click Next.
7.
By default, the Decision Point Map displays an example of a branching scenario activity. Each node in a decision
point map represents a decision that learners can make and/or an outcome of a decision. For example, the
following branching scenario activity prompts learners to identify which animal in a scenario is the prey:
 The Prompt for the initial decision point is: A mouse eats an acorn for food. A snake eats the mouse for
food. Which animal is the prey?
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 The Choices From Here are: Mouse and Snake.
 If the learner chooses Snake, the Feedback is: That's incorrect.
 If the learner chooses Mouse, the Feedback is: That's correct. Then, a new Prompt displays: The snake ate
the mouse for food. Then, the hawk ate the snake. Which animal is the prey now?
 The Choices From Here might be: Hawk and Snake.
8.
To add more branching items, repeat the previous steps.
9.
Click Next.
10. Use the default action sounds provided or upload custom action sounds.
11. Click Preview Activity.
12. Test the activity.
13. Click Save and Close.
Create an embedded content activity
To create an embedded content activity:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Activities.
2.
Click Create New Activity.
3.
Type an Activity Name, select Embedded Content as the activity, click Save changes, and then click Next.
4.
Click Next.
5.
Choose one of the following:
 Search LOR allows you to search your Brightspace Learning Repository for an object to include as an
embedded content activity, for example, a video clip.
 Video allows you to upload a YouTube video to include as an embedded content activity. In the YouTube
video, click Share, and then copy and paste the link into the URL field in the Game-Based Learning
Workshop.
6.
Click Preview Activity.
7.
Test the activity.
8.
Click Save and Close.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
Understanding game maps
Learners move through a game map in Brightspace Learning Environment like a board game. There is a starting point
and finishing point, with activities to complete along the way.
A game map consists of the following design elements:
 Map title - the title of the module for the published course. This is the module title that appears in Brightspace
Learning Environment.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Background image - a static image that appears as the background of the game map. You can choose from pre-
defined backgrounds or select your own custom image.
 Tiles - a path that the learner follows to complete activities.
 Objects - visual points of interest in the game map that complement the GBL module's look and feel. For example,
if you are designing a jungle-themed map, you might add trees and huts.
 Activities - the learning activities you want learners to complete in the game map. You can add as many activities
as you want to a game map.
Create a game map
To create a game map:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Maps.
2.
Click Create New Map.
3.
Enter a title for your map. This is the module title that appears in the published course in Brightspace Learning
Environment.
4.
To add a narrative to your map, click Add / Edit Narrative. The narrative is a story for the game map that makes
the experience more engaging for your learners. You can add narrative to the start and end of your game map.
5.
Click Next.
6.
Choose a pre-defined background image or load a custom background image.
7.
Click Next.
8.
Choose a paintbrush to paint roads and use the eraser to remove them. To help you identify tile borders, click
Show Helper Grid.
9.
Click Next.
10. Click an object from the available selection, and then click on the map to add your object. To move, rotate, or
delete the object, click the select tool and then click the object to perform the desired action.
11. Click Next.
12. To define the activity structure of your game map, select an activity (if applicable), and then choose an option:
 Add child to Game Activity – a game activity that comes after an existing game activity. Game activities can
have multiple children.
 Reassign selected game activity – move a game activity to another parent.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
 Add corner after selected game activity – a corner is similar to a child game activity except that activities
cannot be assigned to them. When rendered, corners do not appear on the map, but allow for a change in
direction of the maps’ path.
 Remove selected game activity – removes the selected game activity and its related data from the game
activity path structure. If the deleted game activity has any children, they attach to the parent game activity
of the game activity that is deleted.
Important: Once a game activity is deleted, it cannot be recovered.
13. Click Next.
14. To edit a node activity, click an activity, and do one or more of the following:
 Change the activity – allows you to change the activity type.
 Activity title and description - add a different title for the activity and/or a description and instructions.
 Unlock criteria – defines the criteria a learner must achieve to access the activity. For example, they must
complete the previous activity with a score attempt greater than 10.
 Add Achievement – defines the achievement granted to the learner if they achieve the unlock criteria for
the activity. For example, if the learner attains a score attempt greater than 10, they are awarded the
Sorting Master achievement.
15. To save your map, click Save and Close.
Add a game map to a new course
To add a game map to a new course:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Maps.
2.
From the Game Maps list, locate the game map you want to add to a new course.
3.
Click Add to New Course.
4.
Select the org to publish the course to and the user adding the game map.
5.
Select one or more courses to add the game map to.
6.
Click Add Course(s).
Publish a game map into a course
To publish a game map into a course:
1.
From the Game-Based Learning Workshop, click Maps.
2.
From the Game Maps list, locate the game map you want to publish into a course.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
3.
Click Publish.
4.
Choose a language to publish to.
5.
Select an org to publish to.
6.
Click Publish Map.
7.
In Brightspace Learning Environment, open the course containing the Game-Based Learning module. The GameBased Learning module appears as a module in the Table of Contents, with the game map and each activity
appearing as topics in the module.
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Game-Based Learning
Creating a Game-Based Learning module
8.
Optionally, you can add further customizations to the module. For example, add a description and image to the
module, or add a discussion at the end of the module.
Figure 12: A Game-Based Learning module in Brightspace Learning Environment
After you publish your game map into a course, you can continue to make modifications to the activities and game
map. Any changes you make are automatically reflected in the courses containing the game map. However, the grade
item is reset if you choose to republish a game map into a course.
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Game-Based Learning
Best practices for designing a Game-Based Learning module
Best practices for designing a Game-Based
Learning module
When adding custom sounds and images, note the following:
 For sounds, files cannot exceed 1.0 MB in size and D2L recommends .mp3 as the sound type.
 For sortable item images, files cannot exceed 1.0 MB in size and D2L recommends image dimensions of 300 x 300
pixels.
 For avatar images, files cannot exceed 1.0 MB in size and D2L recommends image dimensions of 250 x 300 pixels.
 For background images, files cannot exceed 1.0 MB in size and D2L recommends image dimensions of 900 x 590
pixels.
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Game-Based Learning
About D2L
About D2L
A global leader in EdTech, D2L is the creator of Brightspace, the world’s first integrated learning platform.
The company partners with thought-leading organizations to improve learning through data-driven technology that
helps deliver a personalized experience to every learner, regardless of geography or ability. D2L’s open and extensible
platform is used by more than 1,100 clients and almost 15 million individual learners in higher education, K–12,
healthcare, government, and the enterprise sector—including Fortune 1000 companies.
The company has operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and Singapore.
www.brightspace.com (http://www.brightspace.com) | www.D2L.com (http://www.d2l.com)
Contact Us
Phone:
1.519.772.0325 (Worldwide)
Toll Free:
1.888.772.0325 (North America)
0.808.234.4235 (United Kingdom and Europe)
0.800.452.069 (New Zealand)
1.800.656.210 (Australia)
0.800.891.4507 (Brazil)
Fax:
1.519.772.0324
Email:
[email protected]
Twitter:
@Brightspace
Web:
www.brightspace.com
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(http://www.d2l.com)
© 2017 D2L Corporation.
The D2L family of companies includes D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, and D2L Brasil Soluções de
Tecnologia para Educação Ltda.
Brightspace, D2L, and other marks ("D2L marks") are trademarks of D2L Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. Please visit
d2l.com/trademarks for a list of other D2L marks.
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