There are so many great books, courses, games, theories, approaches, blogs, podcasts…..(well you get the idea), out there on the topics of games-based learning, gamification and all the sundry other topics beloved of Ludogogy readers. This is a space for our readers to submit reviews of anything they feel would be useful for you to know about. We are looking for reviewers – likely tasks will include tasks reading, listening, watching or playtesting. Also, if you have a book, game or whatever you would like to see reviewed here, we want to hear from you too Please get in touch in either case at info@ludogogy.co.uk using ‘review’ in your subject line.
Reviews
Review – Luma World Games - Luma World's approach to learning through play aligns with modern educational theories emphasing active engagement, problem-solving, and hands-on experiences. [...]
Review of Dear Data - When I decided to run the ‘Quantified Self’ theme in Ludogogy, I knew at once that I would want to write a review of this amazing book. [...]
Review – A Book About How We Learn From Failure - One of this book’s greatest strengths, is that it focuses on one aspect of play in learning, and gives space and time to be really thorough in exploring it. [...]
Review of Games you can Play in your Head - I’ve long been a fan of ‘elegant’ games, by which I mean games that achieve a great deal of gameplay – and therefore fun – without having lots of materials or overly complex rules and mechanisms. I also, at times, especially since lockdown, struggle to gather together sufficient people to play some of my favourite tabletop and role playing games,… [...]
Review of Transform Deck and Toolkit - The Transform Deck follows the tradition of creativity decks such as Michalko’s Thinkertoys This deck focuses on inspiring ideas and sparking creativity [...]
Review of Gameful Habits – self-gamification - Bartels is the author of numerous books on different facets of her ‘Self-Gamification’ approach to self-help by turning one’s life into games. [...]
Review of Building Blocks of Tabletop Game Design - If this book by Engelstein and Shalev had existed back then, I would definitely have used it to explore game mechanics to inform my game design. [...]
Review of Designing Games and Gamification for Learning - If you wanted to be able to explain the pedagogical value of games and gamification, then this book would work extremely well. [...]
Review – Living Complexity by Luca Minudel - Living Complexity is described by its author, Luca Minudel, as a catalogue of practices for use within teams, with an eye also at the broader organisation. [...]
Review of Framing Play Design - When we play, we explore and create things that can never come into being when we are focused on doing things right and achieving [...]
Review – Ideas Arrangements Effects by DS4SI - Ideas, Arrangements, Effects (IAE) starts with a simple premise - that ideas are embedded in social arrangements, which in turn produce effects. [...]
Review – Reality is Broken by Jane McGonigal - The main thesis of this book is that games can be used as 'meaningful work' in the face of some of the world's most intractable problems. [...]
Review – Yu-kai Chou’s Behavioural Design Masterclass - If you are serious about offering Octalysis-based gamification design to clients, or a project of your own to gamify, this course will amply repay your effort [...]
Review – Dyslexic Motivation in Pictures - The Book of Dyslexic Motivation in Pictures, by Will Wheeler, is a which has lots to teach us about becoming a successful professional (dyslexic or otherwise). [...]
Review – Wargaming Experiences – Soldiers, Scientists and Civilians - Wargaming Experience”is recommended to read, especially for those in the defence and security environment who want to start applying game-based methodologies [...]
Review – Coursera’s Futures Thinking Specialisation – Part 2 - This course built on the previous four modules, and got down to playing games, the purpose of which was to check the usefulness of your projected futures [...] Review – Coursera’s Futures Thinking Specialisation - The tools are easily and immediately applicable to work and life. Although this learning is about the future, the skills it teaches are applicable immediately [...]
Review of Evivve: The Leadership Game - The game set-up is well-balanced to test a range of real-life collaboration, communication, strategy and decision-making skills. [...]
Review – Emotify!The Power of the Human Element - ‘Emotify!’ starts by making its case for game-based learning over lectures and takes a tour through the landscape of game-based learning. [...]