Playable Case Studies: A New Educational Genre for Technical Writing Instruction

Technical Communication Quarterly Oct 2019

Playable Case Studies: A New Educational Genre for Technical Writing Instruction

Jon Balzotti Brigham Young University ; Derek Hansen

Abstract

A Playable Case Study (PCS) is a hybrid learning experience where students (1) participate in a fictional narrative that unfolds through an immersive, simulated environment and (2) engage in classroom activities and lessons that provide educational scaffolding and promote metacognition through in-game and out-of-game experiences. We present the Microcore PCS to illustrate the potential of this new type of experiential simulation that incorporates aspects of Alternate Reality Games (ARGs) to increase immersion and teach workplace literacies in the technical communication classroom. We explore results from a pilot test of Microcore with an undergraduate technical communication course, identifying design strategies that worked well and others that led to improvements that are currently being incorporated. We also provide questions to prompt future research of playable case studies and discuss our findings in a broader context of technical communication pedagogy.

Journal: Technical Communication Quarterly
Published: 2019-10-02
DOI: 10.1080/10572252.2019.1613562
Open Access: Closed
Topics: writing pedagogy technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (3)

Hsiao (2024)

Professional Critical Consciousness: Bridging Classroom Theory with Workplace P…

Technical Communication Quarterly
Duncan (2022)

“Expanding Ethical Pedagogy in Technical Communication: Learning from Killer Na…

Technical Communication Quarterly
Rice-Bailey (2021)

The Benefits of Improvisational Games in the TC Classroom

Technical Communication Quarterly

Cites in this index (9)

deWinter et al. (2016)

Games in Technical Communication

Technical Communication Quarterly
Finseth (2015)

Theorycrafting the Classroom

Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Wardle (2009)

“Mutt Genres” and the Goal of FYC: Can We Help Students Write the Genres of the…

College Composition and Communication
Turnley (2007)

Integrating Critical Approaches to Technology and Service-Learning Projects

Technical Communication Quarterly
Edbauer (2005)

Unframing models of public distribution: From rhetorical situation to rhetorica…

Rhetoric Society Quarterly

Show all 9 →

Scott (2004)

Rearticulating Civic Engagement Through Cultural Studies and Service-Learning

Technical Communication Quarterly
Cook (2002)

Layered Literacies: A Theoretical Frame for Technical Communication Pedagogy

Technical Communication Quarterly
Scott et al. (1999)

Using portfolios to evaluate service courses as part of an engineering writing …

Technical Communication Quarterly
HUCKIN (1997)

Technical Writing and Community Service

Journal of Business and Technical Communication

Also cites 12 works outside this index ↓

10.1300/J125v13n01_07

↗
10.1162/IJLM_a_00086

↗
10.17226/9853

↗
10.4159/harvard.9780674735606

↗
10.4324/9780203164754

↗
10.1017/CBO9780511815355

↗
10.1037//0022-0663.92.3.492

↗
McKeough A. (2013)

Teaching for transfer: Fostering generalization in learning

↗
10.4018/ijgbl.2012070103

↗
10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.92040-3

↗
10.1075/pbns.188

↗
10.1187/cbe.12-03-0033

↗

CrossRef global citation count: 11 View in citation network →