Innovative instructional design services to engage and inspire students at EWU
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WHAT WE DO:
Enhance your courses with engaging, interactive, and effective learning experiences! The purpose of Instructional Design at Eastern Washington University is to provide faculty and staff with thoughtful and creative guidance in course creation and updates, leveraging gamification as a primary strategy. By integrating game-based elements such as challenges, rewards, and immersive storytelling, we hope to transform traditional coursework into dynamic and motivating experiences for students and instructors alike! Whether you’re looking to revamp existing materials or design new courses from the ground up, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Let’s level up learning together!
WHY GAMIFICATION WORKS:
Gamification isn’t just about playing games—it’s about applying game mechanics to make learning more engaging, interactive, and effective. Gamification taps into intrinsic motivation, encouraging students to stay engaged and retain information longer. Studies show that game-based learning fosters problem-solving skills, collaboration, and deeper comprehension. At EWU, we help instructors transform traditional coursework into dynamic experiences that captivate students and enhance learning outcomes.
WHO WE HELP:
Our Instructional Design services are designed to support EWU instructors, staff, and departments in creating engaging and effective courses. Whether you’re a professor looking to integrate interactive elements, a department seeking to enhance curriculum design, or a staff member exploring new ways to engage learners, we provide tailored solutions to meet your needs. No matter your level of experience with gamification, we’re here to help you transform learning into an immersive and rewarding experience for your students!
SERVICES WE OFFER:
- 🏆 Level 1: Course Redesign & Gamification – Transform traditional courses into interactive experiences
- 🧩 Level 2: Tech Integration & Tools – Learn about the best tools for quizzes, badges, leaderboards, etc.
- 🚀 Level 3: Game-Based Learning Strategies – Incorporate simulations, role-playing, and interactive storytelling
- 📚 Level 4: Accessibility & Engagement – Ensure courses are inclusive, interactive, and effective
Podcast and Media Hub
Podcast Episodes:
Resources for Students:
Program Leading to University Success (PLUS) – Tutoring for all programs at EWU
Writer’s Center – Writing content mentoring/refining/enhancing
Multimedia Commons – Media design and production
Ideation Lab – Physical manufacturing facilities
Blog/Articles/Templates:
Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT) Template
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Gamifying your course involves incorporating game elements to make learning more engaging, interactive, and rewarding. Here are some ways to get started:
✅ Use Challenges & Quests – Break lessons into missions or quests where students progress through levels as they complete tasks.
✅ Incorporate Points & Badges – Reward students with points, badges, or achievements for completing assignments, participating in discussions, or mastering skills.
✅ Create Leaderboards & Competitions – Encourage friendly competition with class leaderboards or team-based challenges.
✅ Integrate Interactive Tools – Use platforms like Kahoot, Quizizz, or Classcraft to bring game-like experiences into the classroom.
✅ Design Story-Driven Learning – Add narratives or role-playing elements where students take on characters and solve real-world problems.
✅ Make Learning Adaptive – Use mastery-based progressions where students unlock new content only after completing prerequisite tasks.
✅ Leverage Badging & Micro-Credentials – Use tools like Badgr to award students for skill mastery.
Not sure where to start? We can help you integrate gamification strategies that fit your course objectives and teaching style!
Getting started with gamification is easy! Follow these simple steps:
✅ Identify Your Goals – Decide what learning outcomes you want to enhance with gamification.
✅ Start Small – Add simple elements like quizzes, leaderboards, or digital badges.
✅ Choose the Right Tools – Platforms like Kahoot, Badgr, and H5P can integrate gamification without extra workload.
✅ Experiment with Storytelling – Create a theme, narrative, or challenges that align with your course content.
✅ Track Engagement & Adjust – Use analytics and student feedback to refine your gamified activities.
Not sure where to begin? We’re here to help! Book a consultation to explore gamification strategies tailored to your course.
No prior experience is needed! Whether you’re new to gamification or already experimenting with game-based learning, we provide guidance at every level. Our approach is designed to be flexible, so you can start small with simple elements—like adding quizzes and badges—or go big with immersive storytelling and simulations.
We offer:
✅ Beginner-Friendly Tools – Easy-to-use platforms like Kahoot, Quizizz, and Badgr require no technical skills.
✅ Step-by-Step Support – We provide workshops, tutorials, and one-on-one consultations.
✅ Customizable Strategies – We help you integrate game elements that match your teaching style and course objectives.
If you’re ready to explore gamification, we’ll help you get started and make learning more engaging—no gaming experience required!
Gamification enhances learning by making it more interactive, rewarding, and student-driven. Here’s how:
✅ Increases Motivation – Points, badges, and leaderboards tap into students’ intrinsic motivation and encourage participation.
✅ Encourages Active Learning – Challenges, quests, and simulations make students more engaged in the learning process.
✅ Provides Instant Feedback – Game elements offer real-time feedback, helping students track their progress and stay on track.
✅ Supports Different Learning Styles – Gamification incorporates visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements to reach diverse learners.
✅ Fosters Collaboration – Team-based challenges and role-playing activities encourage peer interaction and problem-solving.
By making learning feel like an adventure, gamification helps students stay focused, retain information better, and enjoy the learning process!
Recommended Apps:
🛠️ Game-Based Learning & Engagement Platforms
- Kahoot! – Interactive quizzes, polls, and learning games.
- Quizizz – Gamified quizzes with instant feedback and leaderboards
- Gimkit – Live classroom games where students earn points and upgrades.
- Blooket – Game-based learning with different play modes.
🎭 Storytelling & Interactive Content
- Twine – Create interactive, text-based adventure stories.
- H5P – Build interactive presentations, quizzes, and branching scenarios.
🎥 Video & Interactive Media
- EdPuzzle – Create interactive videos with embedded questions.
- Powtoon – Animated video creation for storytelling.
🔍 Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR)
- CoSpaces Edu – Create AR/VR learning experiences.
- Google Expeditions (now integrated into Google Arts & Culture VR) – Virtual field trips and immersive learning.
📊 Tracking & Analytics
- Google Forms + Flubaroo – Automated grading and progress tracking.
- Microsoft Forms – Interactive assessments with analytics.
- Learning Locker (xAPI LRS) – Track and measure gamified learning activities
🎨 Advanced Content Creation
- Unreal Engine – Create immersive 3D environments & simulations
- PostShot – Use video to recreate real world locations and objects in 3D
- Adobe Creative Suite – Professional video/photo editing and publishing (contact IT for keys)
- Pinokio – Swiss Army Knife of AI tools for the generation of custom assets
Get Involved / Work With Us
🎮 Schedule a Consultation (Form for booking a one-on-one session).
🏅 Join the Gamification Community (Discord)
💬 Contact Us (For specific questions or custom solutions)
