The "Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games" Video Series (now available free)

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And consider subscribing to the YouTube Channel for the video series on the history of learning games called the "Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games."

Introduction

Games are perhaps the oldest form of human-to-human social interactions. In fact, according to Wikipedia, "A series of 49 small carved painted stones found at the 5,000-year-old Ba?ur H?yük burial mound in southeast Turkey could represent the earliest gaming pieces ever found" (Source). And while the first recorded game in history associated with learning hasn't officially been determined, it's easy to imagine that as soon as games were created, they were used in one way or another for teaching.

As I have been fascinated with games for learning over the years, I've decided to take my research and interesting findings and develop a web-based video series on the history of games. I even spent my sabbatical studying games around the world (you can start that ongoing series here). We can learn so many lessons from studying games to make our own learning games even more effective.

The origin of many games lies in mystery, the exact date of the development of many games is lost to recorded time but some shreds can be used to recreate what we think has happened in the world of learning games. To that end, I've have taken some time (as a passion project) and have, to the best of my ability, created a series of about the creation of learning games.

What Can We Learn

The series is not just focused on the past, we can learn a great deal from how those of us who came before created games and what techniques, ideas and concepts their incorporated into their own games for learning. We can and should learn from past serious or learning game designers. I've learned a great deal from the series and think you can learn a great deal as well.

Episodic Reveal

Right now, as this is a side project, the videos of the series are being released once a month. The first four episodes are already released and the next one is on the famous Oregon Trail game which launched many learning adventures back in the day. So, turn off Netflix and learn some really cool history related to the design, development and delivery of learning games. You can sign up to be the first to know about new episodes on YouTube here: "Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games."

Episode One: Who is the Founder of Modern Learning Games?

The answer to this question will surprise you.

Episode Two: What Does War Gaming Have to Do with Serious Learning?

It turns out "a lot."

Episode Three: Using Wargaming to Examine Models, Realism, & Gameplay in Serious Games for Learning

One of the key things you need to consider when designing a learning game is the model upon which you decide to design the game.

Episode Four: Games as Tools for Predicting a Pandemic?

The current pandemic was "war gamed" right before it actually happened and lessons were both learned and lost.

Episode Five: What Can We Learn from The Oregon Trail?

Subscribe to be one of the first to know when a new video is released. Click this link: "Unofficial, Unauthorized History of Learning Games."

Episode Six: The Ancient Origin of Scenario and Roleplay-based Card Games

Invitation

Join me on this adventure to uncover the history of learning games and discover how you can leverage the ideas, insights and innovations from earlier games into your own design of serious learning games.

Bio

Karl Kapp is a professor at Bloomsburg University and he literally “wrote the book” on the "The Gamification of Learning and Instruction" and he is co-author of the game-based learning book Play to Learn with Sharon Boller. Karl is a researcher, analyst, speaker, professor, consultant and designer of instructional games, gamification and engaging learning experiences.

He is a learning experience designer who works around the global helping organizations create engaging and meaningful learning experiences using an evidence-based approach. Karl created several LinkedIn Learning courses including "The Gamification of Learning" as well as "Gamification for Interactive Learning" and several others.

He is co-founder of Enterprise Game Stack, a serious games company that creates digitized card games for learning ranging from interactive role-play games to sorting activities and everything in-between. Find out more at Enterprise Game Stack.

Follow Karl on Twitter @kkapp.