Short answer

When designing tools for content creation, focus on modularity, user roles, and a clear workflow to enhance efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.

Field: User-Centred Design
Source: Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal (2020)
Method: Platform design and evaluation
Evidence: Strong effect

A flexible and user-friendly platform can significantly reduce the time, cost, and complexity associated with developing scenario-based serious games for cognitive skill acquisition. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2020 study published in Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal. Using Platform design and evaluation, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing tools for content creation, focus on modularity, user roles, and a clear workflow to enhance efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.

Study

User-Centred DesignHigh ImpactStrong effect

Generic Platform Accelerates Serious Game Development for Complex Cognitive Skills

A flexible and user-friendly platform can significantly reduce the time, cost, and complexity associated with developing scenario-based serious games for cognitive skill acquisition.

Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal · 2020

Key Findings

01The EMERGO platform provides common components that cater to most functionalities needed for scenario-based games.
02The platform supports users in managing, developing, delivering, and playing a broad variety of scenario-based games.
03Evaluation data indicate that the platform enables faster, more user-friendly, and less costly development and delivery of scenario-based games.

Application

Design takeaway

When designing tools for content creation, focus on modularity, user roles, and a clear workflow to enhance efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.

How to apply

When developing a system for creating digital content, break down the process into reusable modules and design interfaces tailored to different user expertise levels.

Project actions

01Consider if your design project could benefit from a platform approach, where reusable components speed up development.
02Think about the different types of users who will interact with your design tool and tailor the experience accordingly.

Method & Evidence

AimCan a generic, user-friendly platform streamline the development and delivery of scenario-based serious games for complex cognitive skill acquisition, proving to be faster, more cost-effective, and less rigid than existing solutions?

MethodPlatform design and evaluation

ProcedureThe EMERGO platform was designed and developed based on identified requirements for scenario-based serious games. Its components and functionalities were outlined, and its usability for various user roles (managers, developers, players) was explained. Evaluation data were collected and presented to support claims of improved development efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

ContextEducational technology and serious game development

Variables

IVPlatform design (generic, user-friendly, modular components)

DVDevelopment time, cost, user-friendliness, flexibility of serious game creation

CVType of cognitive skills targeted, complexity of scenarios, specific game mechanics

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a clear need for more efficient serious game development.
+Provides a concrete example of a successful platform with long-term viability.

Limitations

The study's findings are specific to the EMERGO platform and may not generalize to all serious game development scenarios.

Reliability & validity

The study's claims are supported by 'evaluation data,' but the specific methodology and metrics used for this evaluation are not detailed, which could affect the perceived reliability and validity.

Think critically

To what extent can a 'generic' platform truly accommodate the unique requirements of highly specialized cognitive skill acquisition without compromising depth or effectiveness?

Design Principles

"Develop adaptable platforms with modular components to facilitate rapid and cost-effective creation of specialized digital experiences."

For designers and developers creating educational or training tools, the efficiency and accessibility of the development process directly impact the feasibility and scalability of their projects. A well-designed platform can democratize the creation of sophisticated learning experiences, making them more widely available and adaptable to diverse user needs.

What This Means for Your Design

Creating special games to learn difficult skills can be slow and expensive. This research shows that a well-designed tool (a platform) can make it much faster, easier, and cheaper to build these learning games.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the benefits of using a structured development environment or platform for your design project, especially if it involves complex digital content creation.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The development of the EMERGO platform demonstrates how a generic, user-centric approach to tool design can significantly enhance the efficiency and reduce the cost of creating specialized digital learning experiences. By providing modular components and catering to diverse user roles, such platforms accelerate the acquisition of complex cognitive skills through scenario-based serious games, offering a valuable model for future design projects in educational technology.

Source

Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal

Developing Scenario-based Serious Games for Complex Cognitive Skills Acquisition: Design, Development and Evaluation of the EMERGO Platform

journal · 2020

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about generic platform accelerates serious game development for complex cognitive skills?: When designing tools for content creation, focus on modularity, user roles, and a clear workflow to enhance efficiency and reduce barriers to entry. Evidence: Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal (2020).
Why does "Generic Platform Accelerates Serious Game Development for Complex Cognitive Skills" matter for design?: For designers and developers creating educational or training tools, the efficiency and accessibility of the development process directly impact the feasibility and scalability of their projects. A well-designed platform can democratize the creation of sophisticated learning experiences, making them more widely available and adaptable to diverse user needs.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing tools for content creation, focus on modularity, user roles, and a clear workflow to enhance efficiency and reduce barriers to entry.
What were the main findings?: The EMERGO platform provides common components that cater to most functionalities needed for scenario-based games.. The platform supports users in managing, developing, delivering, and playing a broad variety of scenario-based games.. Evaluation data indicate that the platform enables faster, more user-friendly, and less costly development and delivery of scenario-based games.
What research method was used?: Platform design and evaluation.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2020 journal from Open University of the Netherlands Research Portal.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When developing a system for creating digital content, break down the process into reusable modules and design interfaces tailored to different user expertise levels.
What are the limitations?: The study focuses on a specific platform and its evaluation, and the long-term adaptability to unforeseen future needs is not fully explored.