Using Alternate Reality Games for Research Based Learning - Robert A. Emmons Jr.

"How can we engage students in what may, at first, seem like tedious processes in research driven projects? Students often find searching for and reading through academic articles and texts an arduous task. This is a necessary skill, and one that can be made exciting by using Alternate Reality Games. Alternate Reality Games(ARGs) are interactive networked narratives that combine real world and created activities to solve a problem, or mystery. They rely on using transmedia (texts, video, audio, Internet, etc.) interactive storytelling. ARGs can be used to gamify the research process and create experiential learning projects beyond the classroom. This session will: 1. Provide an overview of Alternate Reality Games. 2. Present an example of how I have used ARGs in my ""Choose Your Own Adventure"" course to promote research and interactive learning. 3. Provide additional potential ways to use ARGs in and beyond the classroom. ARGs promote deep dives into a subject and require participants to synthesize information to solve problems. They can be incorporated into a courses activities to stimulate engaged and interactive learning. This session will ask attendees to brainstorm and create simple flowcharts for potential ways to incorporate an ARGs into their own courses."