Design and Implementation of an MMO

Abstract

Games can be a powerful tool for learning not only content knowledge but also skills and ways of thinking. In a classroom, the instructional design that goes into the implementation of a learning game is as important as the game itself. The Radix Endeavor is a multiplayer online game for inquiry-based STEM learning in which players explore mathematical and biological systems and use their understanding of those systems to solve problems in a virtual world. This chapter will present case studies of teachers implementing Radix in their classroom with a wide variety of formats, approaches, and learning goals. The authors will examine how key elements of an implementation impact student and teacher experiences and support problem-solving and inquiry learning. The chapter will explain the importance of implementation decisions, which will aid teachers and instructional designers integrating game-based learning into their own curriculum.