Have you ever wondered how playing games can help us to train people, deal with societal challenges or raise awareness of contemporary social issues? Or would you like to get a sneak peek into our teaching? On the Coursera platform, you can now follow a digital course about serious games.
Learning about serious games
In the MOOC 'Serious Gaming', media scholars Prof. Jeroen Jansz and Dr Mijke Slot teach you what serious games are and how they work. Also, they take you on a tour along some of the most cutting-edge serious games that are developed by several Rotterdam-based game companies.
Theory and practice of serious games
In the MOOC ‘Serious Gaming’, you will learn to define serious games, to analyze how they entertain and persuade us and to measure their impact. In six modules, which you can follow at your own pace, theory and practice always go hand in hand. Each module starts with an introductory lecture by media scholars Jeroen Jansz and Mijke Slot. Next, they and their fellow researchers discuss topics such as game and play, simulation and persuasiveness, which are made understandable – and fun – through animations and videos. You can test your own knowledge by making the in-video quizzes and post-video training exercises.
In each module, you will see, and sometimes play, serious games addressing social issues like child labor or poverty. You may also experience simulations set in the Port of Rotterdam or the Erasmus Medical Centre. In these unique peeks behind the scenes you will discover how serious games are currently being used for diverse purposes – and if they have had an impact.
"What I liked about this course where the useful theories, as well as the many interesting cases of serious games."
For whom?
Whether you are a student, a professional in the creative industries or working in the field of education and advertisement, this MOOC will provide you with essential information and cutting-edge examples. After this course, you will know what serious games are, what it means to design something persuasive and what the future might hold for serious gaming.
Interested?
Sign in for the MOOC on Coursera. It’s for free, you only pay when you want a certificate. You can start at any moment you like and finish the course at your own pace. You will receive feedback on your assignments by your peers and you will be invited to discuss your views with other participants.