Unit Outline
KIT327
Gamification and Serious Games
Semester 1, 2024
Kristy de Salas
School of Information and Communication Technology
College of Sciences and Engineering
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Kristy de Salas
Email: Kristy.deSalas@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 
This unit will provide essential information on the growing field of gamification and serious games, as well as a practical opportunity to apply technical and behavioural methodologies to build a serious game to support a critical social issue.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Critically assess the design and use of gamification and serious games to impact societal challenges
2.
Apply technical and behavioural theories towards the design, development, and evaluation of a serious game.
3.
Communicate and work effectively as an individual, with peers, and with subject matter experts during the design, development, and evaluation of a gamification or serious game system.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
KIT207
Alterations as a result of student feedback
This is a new unit.  Student feedback will be collected throughout, and at the compeltion of, the semester.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Tutorial
A structured real-time (i.e. synchronous) activity in a small-group setting where the primary purpose is the clarification, exploration or reinforcement of subject content presented or accessed at another time or place (e.g. lecture, preparatory work). It is reliant on student-teacher and student-student interaction and dialogue for achievement of its learning outcomes. The students enrolled in the tutorial are expected to attend.
3
Weekly
Project
A demonstration and presentation to an audience of peers, staff, and clients.
9
Once only
Online
Individual Study
Involving reading, listening to audio, watching video, and/or completing exercises and/or quizzes, self-study is individual work undertaken when the student chooses (i.e. asynchronous), most likely through engagement with MyLO. The content is examinable, and may need to be completed prior to attending classes and/or attempting assessment tasks.
3
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
It is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit.
If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.
This unit has been designed to allow students to experience a Serious Game development project from the understanding through to the evaluation phase. Students are expected to apply the knowledge that they have acquired throughout their degree.
In this unit, your active engagement will be monitored in the following ways:
1. Completion of all assessment tasks;
2. On-time submission of required tasks;
3. Attendance for, and attendance at, tutorials.
If you do not demonstrate evidence of having engaged actively with this unit by completing the scheduled activities due by Week 4 of the semester, your unit coordinator will contact you to help develop strategies to ensure you are being fully supported with your learning.
 
 
How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Serious Games and Gamification Research Presentation
Week 3
20 %
LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Serious Game Conceptual Model and Pitch
Week 7
30 %
LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Serious Game Prototype and Presentation
Week 14
50 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Serious Games and Gamification Research Presentation
Task Description:
In a team of three members, you will be given a specific industry sector in which to explore how games for change are being used. Your team will research and discuss three examples of games in this industry, one designed for impacting compliance, one for impacting attitude, and one for impacting behaviour. In doing so, you will critically evaluate the design and evaluation approaches of each, discussing how its design contributed to, or inhibited the achievement of the change outcome it was designed for. Your team will present the outcomes of this task in an oral presentation, supported by slides in your allocated tutorial session.

Individual contribution to this task will be assessed via self and peer review and during the presentation.

Task Length:
10-minute presentation
Due Date:
Week 3
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Using independent research, summarise gamification and serious games as mechanisms to impact societal challenges
LO1
2
Using independent research, critically assess current design approaches of gamification and serious games and analyse how these approaches impact the success of these in achieving their design goals.
LO1
3
Develop and present outcomes of the task in a professional oral presentation, supported by slides.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Serious Game Conceptual Model and Pitch
Task Description:
Students will form teams and liaise with subject-matter experts to apply technical and behavioural theories within a serious games methodology to design a serious game concept that aims to positively impact a critical social issue.

Your team members will present the outcomes of this task in both a professional-style written report and an oral presentation pitch, supported by slides in your allocated tutorial session.

Individual contribution to this task will be assessed via self and peer review and during the presentation.

Task Length:
3000-word report plus 10-minute pitch
Due Date:
Week 7
Weight:
30 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Using independent research, apply technical and behavioural theories within a serious games methodology to design a serious game concept that aims to positively impact a critical social issue.
LO2
2
Develop and present process and outcomes of the task in a professional business report.
LO3
3
Develop and present outcomes of the task in a professional oral presentation pitch, supported by slides.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Serious Game Prototype and Presentation
Task Description:
Based on the Serious Game Concept described in Assessment Task 2, student teams will develop a playable serious game that aims to positively impact a critical social issue. Students will demonstrate and describe their game, supported by an oral presentation, identifying how their design choices are likely to impact the achievement of a positive impact for their target audience.

Individual contribution to this task will be assessed via self and peer review and during the presentation.

Task Length:
20-minute presentation plus playable game
Due Date:
Week 14
Weight:
50 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Create a playable serious game that aims to positively impact a critical social issue.
LO2
2
Demonstrate and describe the design process of the game in a professional business report and an oral presentation, including how your design choices are likely to impact the achievement of a positive impact.
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
 
 
How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.