David Kaufman (short bio)

Simon Fraser University, Canada

Objectives:

The objective of this tutorial is to provide new insights and guidance regarding how digital games can support more beneficial and enjoyable gameplay for older adults.

Content and Benefits:

Researchers are becoming increasingly interested in the potential of digital games for helping older adults. Digital games offer enjoyment and can also incorporate serious educational aims and content. They have been used for training and learning purposes to improve seniors’ mental and physical health and their socio-emotional wellbeing. Integrating educational and multiplayer components into games offers seniors an opportunity to learn and socialize through enjoyable activities. The background and rationale for this topic will be discussed, however, the main emphasis of the tutorial will be on digital game design for older adults.

Tutorial Outline:

This tutorial will be highly interactive. Various instructional techniques will be used including mini-lectures, group discussion, and viewing some digital games for older adults.

Topics will include:

• Background and rationale for older adults digital gameplay
• Descriptions of types of digital games played by older adults
• Demonstration of types of digital games played by older adults
• Factors motivating older adults to play digital games
• Principles to guide the design of digital games for older adults
• Practice in creating a concept for a digital game for older adults
• Resources for further learning

Participants will learn about the benefits, challenges and principles for designing digital games for older adults. Several examples will be presented to illustrate these principles.

Target Audience:

This tutorial is suitable for anyone wishing to learn about digital games for older adults. The methods presented in this tutorial will focus heavily on practical implementation issues to allow participants to transfer their learning directly to their own settings.