Work Package 7 – Game and Platform Content

Experimental Development – Staff capacity: 11,97 PM, external labour: 48.616,00 EUR

Goal of the Work Package in Overall Project Context

In this step, contents for game elements and platform will be developed, in order to create a contentual basis for creating further content. Questions, answers, messages, instructions, work sheets, photos, videos and illustrations will be developed that are based on the framework curriculum of fourth grade elementary school and aesthetically and content-wise fit into the story world of “Professor S.” The goal of the work package also is to create a legal framework for the platform and the game.

Result as Conclusion of the Work Package

50 quiz questions for each of the topics Bicycle Exam (traffic quiz), Whales and Dolphins, Knights and Castles, Local History, Music, Fire and Firefighting, Sports, Foreign Languages and Social Sciences – a total of 400 questions with corresponding multiple choice answers
10 questions/tasks for each topic segment
100 prepared chatbot messages and mini tasks
instructions for 100 tasks
general terms and conditions for the “Professor S.” platform
license agreements for producers of film and game content
scavenger hunts for five cities in the German area with ten checkpoints each
five questionnaires each for every produced short documentation

Technological Risk of the Work Package

The game and platform contents are closely tied to the game mechanics and the game sequence. Like with the game mechanics, the risk is in the effects that the contents can have on the game system. Let’s assume that 50% of the children cannot solve the first task, the solution of which contains a vital clue for solving the second task. The solution of the second task triggers a reward that half of the children do not get in this case. Here, small changes can have major impact. To prevent this risk, it is planned to frequently test and adjust the content under the real conditions of the classroom. Film content will frequently be tested for coherence using task and chat bots. The resulting progress plans will be tested with game mechanics and documented in the interactive manual. Like with the game mechanics, major changes towards the end of the project will be largely avoided.

Description of the Work Package

In this step, contents for the game elements and platform will be developed, to create a contentual basis to build further content. Questions, answers, messages, instructions, work sheets, photos, videos and illustrations will be developed that are based on the framework curriculum of fourth grade elementary school and aesthetically and content-wise fit into the story world of “Professor S.”

Work Package 7.1 – Terms & Conditions and Contracts

In this step, terms of use and other legal framework for the use of the game and the provided content will be created. Among these are terms of use for the platform, licensing agreements for user-generated content and licensing agreements for film content and games.

Work Package 7.2 – Quiz Content

In this step, questions, answers, photos, videos and illustrations will be created for the quizzes. The quiz content will cover all major topics of fourth grade elementary school. Among others, they are Bicycle Exam (traffic quiz), Whales and Dolphins, Knights and Castles, Music, Fire and Firefighting, Sports, Foreign Languages and Social Studies.

Work Package 7.3 – Task Content

In this step, tasks will be created “offline”, that can be used in class or at home. These tasks are not computer-based but require “offline” research, experimenting or creating of objects/media. For example, the topic Whales and Dolphins could include research for a learning package, the content of which can be turned into a video presentation, presenting and explaining it to Professor S.

Work Package 7.4 – Geolocation Content

In this step, content will be created for the geolocation game. The plan is to connect sagas or local legends to real world locations and to thus retell the local history of specific places from the points of view of the characters of the saga, historic figures and Professor S. himself. The idea is to have students research stories and sagas in their environment and to tie specific places to these stories via GPS markers. In an Augmented Reality layer, a permanent mark will be at these places, so that following players can read the story. Also, the marks will be made visible on a map of the surroundings. Following players will be able to collect points by visiting the places in reality and have their GPS position as proof. An example is The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the true historic background of which has less to do with the of extermination of rats but of recruiting children for the childrens crusade. This and similar stories will be experienced and discovered at real places by the children.

Work Package 7.5 – Help and Instructions

A general rulebook, task descriptions and instructions for the tasks will be created. This content is made up of texts, photos, videos and illustrations.

Work Package 7.6 – Chatbot Messages and Tasks

Here, message content for the chatbot/autoresponder will be developed (see WP2.2). These messages will also contain small tasks, links to research content and mini games.

Work Package 7.7 – Music Sequencer Content

In this step, content will be created for the music sequencer. This includes creation of new compositions and the recording and arranging of existing works like Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto or Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf” (see work package WP4). The here created instrumental tracks will – split up into 1 or 2 measure phrases – be integrated into the sequencer.

Work Package 7.8 – Quiz Questions for Documentary Films

In this step, multiple choice questions will be created for the documentary film content. The content of the documentary films will be analysed and appropriate questions and answers will be created for set segments of the films.