At this point, we've talked about the fact that kids love games, and that games are applicable to the classroom for quite a few reasons. For example, they provide incremental challenges for students to master on their way to a broader goal. Building those challenges, opportunities for problem solving, and instant feedback into games is the job of a game designer.

A good game designer knows that there are a few things that all well-designed games have in common. They are:

1.) THEME - This is the back story that has a question or problem to solve. In Super Mario Brothers, what were Mario and
Luigi trying to do? Save the princess. In Donkey Kong, the gorilla is protecting all of his bananas. In the Legend of Zelda...well, I never figured that one out, but you get my point. Good games have a story and problem that the gamer is trying to solve.

2.) NEED TO KNOW - What does a player need to know/learn to progress successfully? Any learning objective, animation, or tutorial should empower the player. Learning objects should be appealing as though we are revealing a cheat.

3.) TRIAL AND ERROR, TIMELY FEEDBACK, THEN SUCCESS - These are the incremental challenges.

4.) INCENTIVES - Badges and points or credits that unlock access or autonomy.

5.) AN AVATAR - personalization and/or role play

Now it is time for you to begin planning for your THEME, or your back story. Open up the Gamification Application Activity, and complete Steps 1-3.