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Two-tiered alternate reality game narrative structure for framing problem-based course activities

Design · All designs
Evidence · no claims cited

Description

The Door AltRG uses a two-tiered narrative structure in which fictional clients "hired" student teams to complete authentic tasks, while a second tier of game structures including puzzles, codes, and ciphers gates access to scaffolding resources. The Puppet Master character, played by the instructor, "provides soft scaffolding and additional resources for students who may be struggling." Game characters also act as gatekeepers judging solution quality before students advance.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • A distributed set of free online resources (e.g., web sites, Ning, Moodle, e-mail, YouTube) linked together as the game's resource distribution system

Constraints

  • Given the complications and expense of designing immersive game worlds, the design embeds game activities across existing media rather than a fully integrated, stand-alone product

Target Learners

  • undergraduate students in large introductory courses

Learning Goals

  • critical thinking and problem solving with technology tools
  • computer applications skills

Claims

Examples

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Key Sources

  • Warren, S. J., Dondlinger, M. J., Jones, G., & Whitworth, C. (2010). Leveraging PBL and Game to Redesign an Introductory Course. i-manager's Journal of Educational Technology, 7(1).
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id two-tiered-altrg-narrative-pbl
title Two-tiered alternate reality game narrative structure for framing problem-based course activities
description The Door AltRG uses a two-tiered narrative structure in which fictional clients "hired" student teams to complete authentic tasks, while a second tier of game structures including puzzles, codes, and ciphers gates acc...
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-11-03
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — warren-2010

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