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…and why those lenses support innovation.

All designers seek an elegant solution to a significant problem. Elegant, in this sense, means a solution that isn’t complex and addresses each of the objectives efficiently and effectively.

When taking on a project, especially one with a transformative objective, it’s important to bring in perspectives from various fields and lived experiences. Each expert view not only deepens our understanding but also improves how the project unfolds, making sure it’s both accessible and engaging. But more, I posit that having a wide range of perspectives (people from very different fields or cultures) is what makes your project truly innovative and approachable. They will ask questions and make suggestions that will prevent many iterations of re-design because they are not seeing the project through the sometimes myopic viewpoint of a singular solution.

I’d like to acknowledge Upsalla University, in particular the Transformative Game Design Masters Degree for this list of various expert lenses. I’ll give you my summation of the role for each of these perspectives.

    • Physical Logistics Specialist: Think of this person as your go-to for making sure everything fits—literally. They make sure the space works just right and that all the resources are in place so everyone can participate fully without a hitch. This isn’t just for in-person programs. Online events or courses still need a logistics specialist who makes certain that the software being used is the right kind and in working order.
    • Communication Specialist: This is your storyteller. They ensure that every message, whether spoken, written, or displayed, is clear and captivating, making certain everyone’s on the same page. This is both in the mode of project production (think of a Project Manager) and also as it pertains to the end users (think of an Instructional Designer). IE. Making sure the instructions for the experience are clear and easy to understand.
    • Safety Specialist: Every great project needs a guardian angel, and that’s this specialist. They’re all about creating a safe space where everyone can explore, learn, and process. This role is particularly important in helping your end users calibrate to each other and the topic before engaging in content that might be a polarizing subject or a topic that could be triggering. You don’t want your end users to have a negative experience and this role will lower that risk.
    • Accessibility Specialist: Accessibility goes beyond just physical access. This specialist helps make sure that everyone, no matter their ability, can engage fully with the project. These are also called Universal Designers. Trust me – getting these experts on board right at the start of the design process is vital. Many developers don’t bring them in until the project is in a final draft state (or even already available to the public) and then they have to go back and redesign because they didn’t have the lived experience or training to see accessibility through another person’s lens.
    • Cultural Consultant: If your project serves or is about a specific demographic, do yourself and the project a big favor and partner with a cultural consultant who is an active member of that culture. And don’t just have them on the side lines telling you what words to use or that such and such design element is not appropriate. This isn’t just about preventing cultural appropriation… it’s about reaching your end users through elements of their own culture and lived experience. There’s a great saying I heard, “Nothing about us without us.” I would also add that if you want a project to go global and to be easily translatable into multiple languages, make sure you have a large number of your designers whose first language is not English. They will help you use words that are clearly translatable and steer away from lingo that certain English users take for granted as being widely known.
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Specialist: With all of the backlash on this in the USA, I am going to make the point that all of the people pushing against DEI are just not getting: You will NEVER be at the pinnacle of innovation if you don’t have a diverse team. This diversity is what brings perspectives that you and people like you don’t have. If you don’t have Equity, then you are not accounting for these differences so your diverse team cannot operate efficiently and once again, you are missing out on peak innovation. And if you don’t have Inclusion, your team won’t feel like they can speak up and provide their full, authentic feedback – which might run counter to what others are saying. But strong innovation requires positive conflict. Just ask any top performing music band.
    • Education Specialist: They’re focused on making sure the project isn’t just fun, but also truly educational, with takeaways that stick. These roles are Curriculum Designers and Learning Experience Designers. They know not just how to deliver the content, but how to process the experience so that transfer is the outcome. Transfer means that the end-user has a takeaway from the experience that is applicable to their life outside of the experience.
    • Mental Health Professional: This is the partner to the Safety Specialist. Their role is to ensure that the resulting experience supports everyone’s emotional and mental well-being, making it a positive outcome for all participants. The more emotionally challenging the topic you are trying to explore, the more vital this role is in your project. As well, they can assist in the debrief of the participants at the end of the experience so that everyone has a chance to process their emotions and make sense of their interaction.
    • Workshop Designer: This person designs engaging activities that not only fit the project’s goals but also help make the experience safer and more engaging. This role identifies how to prepare the participants ahead of time for the experience in such a way that they have a better understanding of what is to come and an agreed upon method for communicating what their comfort level is with the changing dynamics.
    • Documentation Lead: They document everything. This role is vital because it helps the team reflect on what’s working and what needs tweaking, while also making sure that everyone is working on the same version. I’m sure some of you recall a time you discovered that you were adding or editing an outdated document and had to start again on the more recent version (insert exasperated sigh here).

So there you go. By incorporating each of these perspectives/roles into the planning process, you can ensure the project isn’t just highly innovative, efficient and effective, but also deeply impactful. Because when you are in the job of making an experience or game that is transformative, you really need to know what you don’t know… and co-design with those who can fill in those gaps for you.


 

Guardian Adventures provides consulting and transformative design for museum and science centers, summer campsamusement & attraction industries, and more.


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What is Transformative Design: Definition, Design, and Impact

Understanding Transformative Experiences

A transformative experience is an event or interaction that shifts or grows an individual’s perspective, understanding, or behavior in a sustained and prolonged manner. These experiences are particularly impactful in game design, where they not only engage and entertain but also influence personal development, educational outcomes, and social perspectives. By challenging the participant or players’ preconceived notions or opening them to new views, these experiences can promote growth and insight.

Designing Transformative Experiences

To create a transformative experience, our designers integrate intentional design, compelling narratives, and meaningful interactions. However, one of the key differences between an experience that is just immersive and one that is transformative is the concept of ‘framing.’ Framing involves setting up the game environment and rules in such a way that players feel safe to explore and make decisions. This safety net is important for encouraging experimentation and learning without fear of real-world repercussions. As well, the activity must have a strong debrief experience in which participants process and put words to their experiences. Then, by providing space for them to associate this new perspective to their life beyond the experience, the participants leave with an understanding of how to incorporate their new knowledge or interest. In other words, transformative design isn’t just about creating a cool interaction… it’s about inspiring change.

The Impact of Transformative Design

Strong transformative design can inspire change because they offer an engaging method to interact with complex subjects such as historical events, scientific concepts, cultural divides, or ethical dilemmas. Experiencing the consequences of their decisions within a safe, game-based environment allows participants to gain deeper insights that they are more likely to transfer to real-life situations. As well, these experiences can bridge cultural and educational gaps, creating inclusive environments where diverse groups can learn from each other’s perspectives, encouraging empathy and understanding.

What Does This Matter to You?

Transformative experiences and games are powerful tools for deep engagement, effective teaching, and inspiring sustained and prolonged positive change. By using framing to ensure safety and encourage thoughtful introspection, participants can bravely engage with challenging ideas that entice them past their comfort zone. As educational tools, they hold the potential to revolutionize how we interact with new and complex topics, making them invaluable for encouraging learners to see these fields of study as career opportunities. So if your organization is interested in having your participants or guests experience your subject matter in a transformative way, then Transformative Design is the path forward.


 

Guardian Adventures provides consulting and program development for museum and science centers, summer campsamusement & attraction industries, and more.


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As treasure troves of culture and knowledge, museums hold untold potential not just as destinations for school field trips, but as extensions of the classroom. In particular, when museums offer educational resources for teachers, they greatly enrich the curriculum and provide students with a deeper, more contextual understanding of their subjects. As well, resources based on games and stories can tap into the vast potential for interactive learning to make a lasting impact on each student’s educational experience.

 

Museums as Educational Partners

 

Enriching the Curriculum

Museums possess a wealth of artifacts and exhibits that can bring textbooks to life. By offering access to curated educational resources about those exhibitions, museums can help teachers provide a more nuanced view of complex subjects, from history to science. For instance, history teachers can use online museum archives to show actual artifacts from the period they’re teaching, allowing students to make a tangible connection with the past.

 

Tailoring Learning

Teachers can often feel constrained by the rigidity of standardized curricula. Museum resources can offer the flexibility to tailor learning experiences to the needs and interests of their class. For example, science teachers might incorporate virtual tours of natural history museums to complement a unit on evolution or biodiversity, giving students a glimpse of the diversity of life forms far outside of the student’s own location and the adaptations of those life forms to their environment.

 

The Power of Game-Based Resources

 

Engagement Through Interactivity

Game-based learning harnesses the engaging power of play to encourage active learning and problem-solving. When museums offer resources in the form of games, they capture the attention of students who might otherwise be disengaged. This method can be particularly effective for complex STEM topics, which often benefit from interactive models and simulations that can make challenging concepts more accessible – even allowing the introduction of higher level thinking at a lower grade level.

 

Learning by Doing

Educational theorists have long touted the benefits of experiential learning—learning by doing. Games and interactive simulations offered by museums can provide hands-on experiences in a virtual format. For example, an online game that allows students to simulate archaeological digs can teach them about the scientific process of uncovering and analyzing historical artifacts.

 

Accessibility and Reach

In an age where technology pervades every aspect of life, digital resources can overcome the limitations of geography. Museums that provide online game-based resources for teachers to use in their classroom can make their collections and expertise available to a much broader audience. A small rural school, miles from the nearest museum, can still benefit from high-quality educational games developed by leading institutions.

 

Examples of Game-Based Museum Resources for Schools

 

  1. History Mystery Games – Museums can create online games where students analyze primary source documents and artifacts to solve historical mysteries.

  

  1. Virtual Physics Labs – Science museums can offer interactive simulations where students conduct virtual experiments to learn about physics principles.

  

  1. Eco-System Simulators – Natural history museums can develop games where students manage virtual ecosystems, learning about environmental science and biology.

  

  1. Math Puzzles from Art – Art museums can offer pattern and geometry games based on their art collections, integrating math and art education into an interdisciplinary approach and allowing students who excel in each subject see the value in both.

 

  1. Language Learning Through Exploration – Language museums can create exploration games where students practice language skills while learning about the history and culture of the language.

 

  1. Cultural Role-Playing Games – Anthropology museums can provide role-playing games where students take on roles to uncover information through the stories of different cultures, promoting understanding and empathy.

 

  1. Interactive Storytelling – Literary museums can develop interactive narratives that allow students to engage with literature in a choose-your-own-adventure format.

 

  1. Astronomy Quests – Science centers with planetariums can create quest-based games that teach students about astronomy and space exploration.

 

  1. Engineering Challenges – Technology museums can offer design and build challenges that give students a taste of engineering problem-solving.

 

  1. Virtual Museum Building – Students can learn about curation and exhibit design by creating their own virtual museum exhibits.

 

As museums continue to evolve, their role in education can expand through the provision of game-based resources for teachers. These resources harness the potential for interactive, engaging learning, making subjects come alive for students in diverse and innovative ways. By investing in these resources, museums not only fulfill their educational missions but also ensure that their treasures have a lasting impact on the learners of today and the leaders of tomorrow.

 


 

Guardian Adventures provides consulting and program development for museum and science centers, summer campsamusement & attraction industries, and more.


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Science centers and children’s museums are on a constant quest to engage and inspire individuals of all ages to be curious and explore the world around them. However, not everyone absorbs information the same way—some visitors need more dynamic, interactive experiences to grasp complex subjects. They need an interactive game for motivation or a story for context… and even better: A role to play in that story. This is where games and Live Action Role-Playing (LARPs) can offer a new dimension for educational immersion. 

 

Why Games and LARPs Are Effective Tools

 

Interactive Learning

Games and LARPs (also called EduLARPs) can turn abstract theories and ideas into something more tactile and experiential. They promote interactive learning, which research shows increases retention and understanding1. The game environment can engage the emotions of a learner which encourages them to persevere through the learning process. Simply studying a topic does have it’s place when the topic requires significant memorization. But it’s terribly difficult to get excited about memorization.

 

Catering to Different Learning Styles

Different people have different learning styles—visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic. Games and LARPs are designed for multiple learning styles and can accommodate different lived experiences, making the educational process more accessible and culturally inclusive2. This is especially true for learners who love video games or movies because the best games involve the use of storytelling.

 

Encouragement of STEM

By embedding scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) principles into a game or LARP scenario, participants can understand these concepts in an applied setting, boosting their interest in STEM fields3. It’s also possible to use these methods to introduce higher level scientific concepts to younger children. There is a limitation, of course, in that metaphors and fantastical stories are sometimes the vehicle for education. So it is important that the teacher helps the students understand that these aspects may not fully encompass the complexity of the scientific concepts. But if the learner is truly inspired, they may pursue more traditional learning in the future.

 

Five Examples of Games and LARPs in Educational Settings

 

1. Phantom Physics: Quest for the Hidden Particle

This is an exciting and interactive 30 minute LARP mystery that teachers can run in their classroom or over Zoom about Particle Physics for ages 8-10. Created with materials from CERN with permission

 

2. Crack the DNA Code

You’ve spotted some products in a shop in New York City. You have a hunch that some of them are from endangered animals. The store owner claims the products are all legal. It’s your job to find out which products were made from endangered animals. It’s your turn to be a DNA detective!

 

3. Mathlete Tournament

A competitive game where teams solve math problems to “score goals,” turning abstract equations into a tangible, goal-oriented activity.

 

4. Astronaut Training Camp

A LARP that mimics the challenges and exercises astronauts go through, embedding physics and engineering concepts within the challenges.

 

5. Elixir of Life STEM Adventure

In this course, instructors learn how to run an immersive LARP where your guests are thrust into a crime-solving adventure set aboard a cruise ship in the year 2070. This LARP requires more equipment resources than are typical for a classroom.

 

As the pinnacle of Informal Learning, science centers and children’s museums can provides a wide array of benefits to their learners when they integrate LARPs and games into their displays or experiences. They improve interactive engagement, apply to multiple learning styles, and encourage an interest in STEM fields. These institutions are already renowned for making science interesting and they have a much wider leeway than schools for making science not just informative, but also fun and accessible.

 

Footnotes

 

1: Kapp, Karl M. “The Gamification of Learning and Instruction: Game-based Methods and Strategies for Training and Education.” Pfeiffer, 2012.

 

2: Coffield, F., Moseley, D., Hall, E., & Ecclestone, K. “Learning styles and pedagogy in post-16 learning: A systematic and critical review.” Learning and Skills Research Centre, 2004.

 

3: Honey, Margaret A., and Margaret Hilton, eds. “Learning science through computer games and simulations.” National Academies Press, 2011.

 


 

Guardian Adventures provides consulting and program development for museum and science centers, summer campsamusement & attraction industries, and more.


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The world of science is vast and intriguing, but is often seen as a subject that should be limited according to grade level. However, just like teaching a child to swim in the shallow part of a pool before diving into the deep end, we can introduce elementary school students to the depths of higher-level science if we use the right techniques. Early exposure to advanced concepts not only lays a stronger foundation for future learning but also ignites an innate curiosity that can last a lifetime.

Here are just a few benefits of introducing advanced science concepts early:

  • Broadened Horizons and Deeper Curiosity: Studies have shown that children are natural-born scientists, innately curious and constantly exploring the world around them1. By introducing higher-level science concepts early, we’re essentially feeding this curiosity, paving the way for more profound understanding and exploration in later years.
  • Enhanced Cognitive Skills: Complex scientific ideas challenge young minds, pushing them to think critically and analytically2. This not only prepares them for rigorous academic challenges in the future but also for problem-solving in everyday life.
  • Preparedness for the Future: With the rapid advancement in science and technology, the next generation will be at the forefront of solving global challenges. Early immersion in advanced science provides them with the knowledge and mindset needed to face these challenges head-on.

So now that we know that this is a good idea… the question remains about how we introduce these concepts.  Here are few ideas to get you started:

 

1. Using Metaphors to Explain Complex Ideas

Metaphors are powerful tools that draw parallels between the familiar (what the student already knows) and the unfamiliar (what they do not know), making advanced concepts more accessible. The beauty of metaphors lies in their ability to transform abstract and sometimes intimidating concepts into relatable and digestible information. By connecting the known with the unknown, metaphors serve as bridges to understanding. Here are some examples to highlight using metaphors in explaining complex scientific ideas to elementary school children:

    • Cells as Cities: The cell can be likened to a bustling city. The nucleus, which contains the cell’s genetic material, is like the city hall or control center. The mitochondria, responsible for energy production, can be seen as power plants. The endoplasmic reticulum, involved in protein and lipid synthesis, parallels factories producing goods. This metaphor allows students to visualize the intricate workings of a cell in a context they can more easily understand1
    • Electrical Circuits as Water Flow: Explaining electrical circuits can be daunting for young students. However, if you compare it to water flowing through pipes, it becomes clearer. Batteries can be thought of as water pumps, pushing water (or current) through the pipes (or wires). Resistors can be likened to narrow parts of the pipe where water flow (or current) slows down.
    • Gravity as a Ball on a Trampoline: To understand the concept of gravity and its effect on space-time, think of a trampoline. When a heavy ball (representing a planet or star) is placed in the middle of the trampoline, it creates a dip or curve. Smaller balls (representing smaller celestial bodies or objects) will roll towards the heavier ball, mimicking the gravitational pull2
    • Enzymes as Locks and Keys: Enzymes, which facilitate biochemical reactions, can be hard to visualize. However, by likening them to locks and their substrates as keys, students can grasp how only the right key (substrate) fits into a lock (enzyme) to unlock (or catalyze) a reaction3
    • Particle Physics Quest for the Hidden Particle: This is a Zoom or in-classroom interactive adventure that teachers can run for ages 8-10 that explores particle physics within an exciting mystery.

Note: Metaphors (as well as Games and Stories) are NOT going to hold up under deeper scrutiny and certainly won’t be applicable as you get into more details of how the science works.  It’s also important to know that they can be misused to spread false information if there are not transparent and regular reminders that the content is simplified and not to be taken out of context or mistaken for deeper knowledge. 

 

2. Engaging with Games

Games provide hands-on experience, allowing kids to learn by doing3. For example, introducing the concept of physics through marble races can explore ideas related to motion, energy, and force. Games also offer immediate feedback, which is vital for learning. If a child makes a mistake, they can understand what went wrong right away and try again, which leads to better retention of the concept. Educational games can be tailored to include cultural elements (like stories, below) that make the scientific content more relatable to diverse audiences, breaking down barriers that might discourage some children from taking an interest in science. 

Creating interactive adventures like EduLARPs which utilize autonomy and a sense of progress can motivate learners to do their own investigation outside of the formal learning environment in order to excel at the game. Such tangible experiences are not only exciting and engaging, they can assist with understanding of higher level concepts and inspire more curiosity on the topic.

 

3. Narrating Through Stories

Stories captivate minds of all ages. By weaving scientific concepts into tales, children can grasp ideas within a context they understand. Take the water cycle, for example. Narrating it as a journey of a water droplet traveling from a river to the sky and back again not only simplifies the process but also makes it memorable. Just like games, cultural elements or references can make the subject more interesting as well as applicable to the students. Exploring the stories of scientists who are people of color or who had a disability can reach kids who have that same lived experience in a way that other stories might not. 

 

When stories are combined with games as well as cultural references, you have a powerful triumvirate for learning. You can reach the students by engaging their own interests and meeting them where they are in their preferred learning style. If you add a debrief at the end of the game, story, or metaphor exploration, you will dramatically improve the learning objectives. And when this happens, motivation takes over for learning science concepts that can be far beyond what is considered “grade level”. The outcome can be inspiring kids to see themselves as scientists, not just now, but in the future as a career path. 

 

Footnotes

1. Gopnik, A., Meltzoff, A. N., & Kuhl, P. K. (1999). The scientist in the crib: Minds, brains, and how children learn. William Morrow & Co.

2. Zosh, J. M., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2015). O the places we will go: The benefits of immersive storytelling for the development of children’s scientific thinking. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 634.

3. Hassinger-Das, B., Toub, T. S., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Golinkoff, R. M. (2017). A matter of principle: Applying language science to the classroom and beyond. Translational issues in psychological science, 3(1), 5.

 


 

Guardian Adventures provides consulting and program development for museum and science centers, summer campsamusement & attraction industries, and more.