Sara DeWitt from PBS KIDS and Drew Davidson from Carnegie Mellon University discussed play time and games. They talked about making games challenging yet fun to engage and teach children through overcoming obstacles. Examples from PBS KIDS and ETC showed how gameplay can improve skills like math and literacy through failing and succeeding. The presenters concluded games should provide rewarding challenges through motivating children to learn.

1. Play Time?
Sara DeWitt & Drew Davidson
#SXPlayTime

2. About Us
• Sara DeWitt
• PBS
• Vice President, PBS KIDS Interactive
• Drew Davidson
• CMU
• Director, ETC-PGH

3. Play Time?
• Games are Hard!
• A lot of Focus on Fun and Rewards
• Engage and Learn through Challenges
• Flow = Rewarding Challenges
• Examples from
PBS KIDS and ETC

4. PBS KIDS

5. PBS KIDS

7. Usability

8. Usability

9. ETC

10. Learning and Games

11. Mobility

12. Crossmedia

13. Body Inputs

14. Body Inputs

15. Body Inputs

16. Body Inputs

17. Experiences

18. Wrong Answers /Mistakes

19. Efficacy/Impact Research
70% of participants improved in the math skill
taught by this game.

20. Iterations

21. 3D-Rendered Gameplay

22. 3D-Rendered Game

23. 3D-Rendered Game

24. Immersion

25. Self-Leveling Games

26. Challenges

27. Reward Systems

28. Motivations

29. Assessment

30. Assessment

31. Transformation

32. Play Time = Hard Fun
• Hard Fun
• Motivating through Challenges
• Usability and Learning
• Failing to Success
• Literacy and Mastery

33. Thanks!
• Questions?
• http://pbskids.org/
• http://www.etc.cmu.edu/site/projects/
#SXPlayTime
• sdewitt@pbs.org
• drdrew@cmu.edu