I was approached by an NEF Education Foundation board member to develop an app or web game for the national annual Block Kids engineering competition in which grade school children create non-organic structures with building blocks.
An app could be extremely effective for the program, both to increase pre-event excitement and to encourage additional learning beyond the event!
Also, they can bring something, printed out from the app or shown on the screen, to the event that helps them role-play while at the competition. And this would be beneficial for pre-registration, demographics, user analytics, etc.
Given the target audience and statistics of the user-base’s hardware, a tablet or web interface would be best and I would like to build off any lessons that are presented by the organization during the competition [I found many were hosted at local schools or libraries].
I think it is important that they are not just playing a character in a game, but connect the app/game to an element of gameplay. With that in mind, they should build a simple avatar in game used to represent them and their ID card, not just use a third person player icon — “I am a certified Block Engineer. Here’s my ID and certificate.” The game labels ‘blueprints’ with the player’s name: “Ada’s Bridge” etc.
The app would include digital building blocks [Lego games prove this will be well received]. But while this game will use building blocks, the focus is not a game simply built with block visuals. The core design element is allowing the player to create fun, interactable elements with the blocks themselves.
You have a list of Blueprints. The ones you do not currently have access to will be grayed out. The ones you do, show you how to build that item in your Workshop. If you actually build it, you get a Star border on it to indicate it is Complete. The app will also give ideas about basic things that could be built in the Block Workshop and uses for those things. To encourage CAD and building education, it will use the build-software standard of 3D camera views that they can switch between while in the Build Workshop. As you complete more Blueprint Builds in the Build Workshop, your experience level increases and your position title will level up — you will really want to become a Lead Engineer perhaps!
Outside of the Build Workshop, the app provides learning information such as an introduction to measuring and defines simple building terms / vocabulary. This can be done through mini-games: Players will then use the vocabulary as a part of a matching/sorting mini game which helps the player collect blocks to use in their designs/builds. You can still only use 100 blocks at a time, but you are able to select the color and block from your collection, so you play the mini-game to get 100 of each of five colors/types [this would take quite some time!]. This is not mandatory to build and play, but some players will like having all the options. Sometimes you can win a Blueprint instead of a Block. For example you see the visual and written name for Ruler which you then sort it into one of two or three groups [drag & drop]: A Ruler –> Toolbox Item OR Building Materials OR Constructed Item
Ultimately, the game serves as a way to practice the skills and vocabulary needed for the actual physical play that will occur at the national annual Block Kids engineering while also encouraging engagement through role-play. You get to have an online game avatar that reflects you as a budding engineer and you witness your experience and study pay off as you gain in-game credit for doing well and collecting blocks through the completion of tasks. You will then be able to, print out or show on your mobile device, your avatar, certification, and badge (and possibly toolbox) which will be used for the in-person experience.
The seamless connection and interplay between the digital game/experience and the physical events is what drives the immersion and motivation factors to encourage a strong connection to the material and to the goal of learning the material.