debriefing — Experience Points

Episode 158 Meghan Gardner on Gamification for Emotional Engagement

This episode of Experience Points features transformative design expert Meghan Gardner, who shares how gamification can create emotionally engaging, healing, and educational experiences. Meghan explains how structured play and role-playing; using techniques like “alibi” and safety signals—help learners explore tough topics while feeling safe and in control. She highlights the importance of session zero and post-game debriefs in turning gameplay into meaningful, lasting transformation. Meghan also unpacks how emotional engagement boosts memory and behavior change, sharing a moving example of a game that led young adults to initiate real-life end-of-life conversations with their families. Drawing on her work with the Smithsonian, Royal Caribbean, and Harvard, Meghan offers practical strategies for educators and designers looking to use games as tools for empathy, connection, and growth.

Transformative, Emotion, Role-play, Meghan GardnerDave EngMarch 1, 2026transformative, gamification, emotion, debriefing, role-play, healingComment

Episode 152 Richard Durham on Learning through Engaging Gameplay

In this episode of Experience Points, Dave Eng speaks with Richard Durham, a prolific game designer, creative director, and educator at Wondertree Studios. Richard shares insights from designing over 30 games across mediums—from street festivals and museum activations to tabletop and secret events—driven by curiosity and a focus on player experience.

Richard Durham, Gameplay, Incoherence, PerspectiveDave EngDecember 7, 2025richard durham, gameplay, fidelity, values, debriefing, incoherence, perspectiveComment

Episode 106 Silviana Falcon on Lectures at Play

In this podcast episode, host Dave Eng discusses educational games and their integration into traditional lectures with guest Silviana Falcon. Silviana shares her experience of using educational games as fundamental components of her lectures over eight years. She emphasizes the value of creating a welcoming learning environment through interactive games that foster camaraderie and teamwork among students. One of the games she uses, "StarPower" by Garry Shirts from 1969, simulates a three-tier society based on wealth, enabling students to experience power dynamics and economic decisions. Silviana's approach involves gradually introducing games to engage students and enhance their understanding. The episode underscores the benefits of well-chosen educational games for deeper learning.

Episode 81 Debriefing Games-Based Learning

On today’s episode we’ll answer how to Debrief Games-Based Learning. Using games for teaching and learning is the basis for games-based learning. But, educators and instructors don’t just play games with students or ask their students to play games. Instead, games serve as a critical and fundamental part of the curriculum for helping learners grow. That’s accomplished by making sure that a proper debriefing has occurred after game play.

debriefingDave EngMarch 19, 2023debriefing, experiential learning, games-based learning, instructor, learners, player experienceComment

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