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This is a student-facing changelog that shows how I’ve improved 3751-Game Design since I started teaching in 2022. The purpose of this document is to invite students into my process and be transparent about my iterative approach to course design.

Since introducing the changelog, students have been more likely to engage with my post-mortem extra credit feedback, and reference changes in class discussion.

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Summer 2025 (Ongoing)

Updates

• Changed in class playtests to be a Brightspace assignment with feedback given

Spring 2025

Features

• New Feature: KT Coins
  • Currency that is earned through class events, and spent on extra credit sundries
  • Result:
    • Needs significant rebalancing to be viable. Huge challenge was I couldn’t allow students to be competitive for KT Coins since they were tired to an actual grade component. Consider introducing a non-graded currency for some fun, but ultimately unimpactful course reward?
    • Did solve students requesting regrades and late assignments. Student feedback indicated they enjoyed the flexibility of the currency.
    • More ways to earn?
• New Feature: Final Project Supplementals
  • Codified photo & video submissions of final projects to further documentation of games for future classes & portfolio practice
  • Result
    • Amazing! As planned it added more of a marketing tilt to the final project submission and kept the throughline of being able to “talk about your project.”
    • Videos are very charming, and great resource for future classes
• This was the best version of Game Design Yet, with some incredible projects across the board (See Past Project Database)

Updates

• Gradebook Overhaul using Brightspace Grade
  • Added more weight to In-Class Playtests
  • Added more weight to Rulebook 1.0 Review
• Pitches
  • Changed pitches to timed (15 minutes.)
  • Students pitch all 3 concepts in class now (instead of 1)
• Section Partner Playtests
  • Further defined rubric, clarified processes for missing section parner playtests.
• Playlogs
  • Reduced Playlog total to 5.
  • Made Playlog 6 Optional
    • Playlogs still are disliked by students as they feel disjointed from project
• Final Project Mega Rubric Created
  • Added Showcase sheets to make grading process on finals easier
  • Refined Rulebook Rubric
• Playtest Rubrics added with defined playtest milestones
• Syllabus Changes
  • Added defined Late Policy

Fixes

• Resolved Brightspace issue with assignments closing too early

Fall 2024