storytelling — Experience Points

Episode 148 Michael Low and Luna Uni: A New World of RPG Writing Instruction

In this episode of Experience Points, host Dave Eng welcomes Michael Low—educator, game designer, and creator of Stories RPG. Michael shares the powerful story behind Luna Uni, a tabletop role-playing curriculum that transforms writing instruction through collaborative storytelling. From 100% student writing gains to building emotionally resonant classrooms, Michael explains how play, character-driven narratives, and East Asian story structures can supercharge literacy and connection. Whether you're an educator, gamer, or curious learner, this episode unpacks the magic of fusing RPGs with pedagogy to build a joyful, self-sustaining learning culture.

Michael Low, RPG, Literacy, StorytellingDave EngOctober 12, 2025michael low, rpg, literacy, storytelling, education, gamification, curriculumComment

Episode 147 Shaun McMillan on Turning Lectures into Games

In this episode of Experience Points, host Dave Eng interviews educational game designer Shaun McMillan about transforming traditional lectures into interactive, game-like experiences. Shaun shares his framework for designing lectures around a single compelling multiple-choice scenario, enabling students to engage deeply with content by making critical decisions. He discusses integrating game mechanics such as voting, uncertainty, and narrative outcomes to enhance didactic instruction. The episode also explores Shaun’s classroom megagame ALLIANCE, a geopolitical simulation for up to 100 players. Shaun emphasizes modular design, accessibility, and the power of storytelling in creating immersive, educational experiences. Learn more at BestClassEver.org.

Shaun McMillan, Gamification, Megagame, SimulationDave EngSeptember 28, 2025shaun mcmillan, gamification, megagame, simulation, education, storytelling, lecture, scenario, engagementComment

Episode 139 Janna Kellinger on Designing Games in Learning Management Systems

In this episode of Experience Points, Dr. Janna Kellinger shares her journey from using one-shot games in high school English classes to designing fully game-based courses at UMass Boston. She discusses her book Up Your Teaching Game and how educators can design story-driven curricular games. Janna explains how she transforms Learning Management Systems (LMS) into game engines, embedding narratives and feedback loops to drive engagement. She highlights her Coding for Non-Coders course, where students learn to code to stop tech thieves. Tune in to discover how game mechanics can revolutionize online learning and student motivation.

Janna Kellinger, LMSDave EngJune 8, 2025Janna Kellinger, gamification, LMS, storytelling, engagement, coding, educationComment

Episode 129 Scott Nicholson on EscapeIF

In this episode of Experience Points, host Dave Eng interviews Dr. Scott Nicholson, professor and director of the Game Design and Development Program at Wilfrid Laurier University. Dr. Nicholson discusses EscapeIF, a system designed for low-resource classrooms to integrate storytelling and interactive fiction into education. He explains how EscapeIF emphasizes engaging narratives and problem-solving without relying on expensive resources, using tools like chalkboards and found objects. The episode explores the challenges of adapting educational games for diverse settings and highlights the importance of reflection in learning. Resources, including free games and guides, are available at EscapeIF.com.

scott nicholson, EscapeIFDave EngJanuary 19, 2025scott nicholson, EscapeIF, gamification, storytelling, education, reflection, accessibilityComment

Episode 118 What is the Game State?

On today’s episode, we’ll answer the question: What is the Game State? Determining the “game state” is often one of the questions that designers and developers will ask themselves when determining how to take a design or iterate on the development of a game. The game’s state is important to understand from a design perspective. But what role does understanding the “game state” play for educators, instructors, and trainers using games-based learning?

game stateDave EngAugust 18, 2024game state, game mechanics, player experience, learning outcomes, storytelling, narrative, gamemasters, NPCsComment

Episode 76 Designing learning games with players in mind

educational game designDave EngJanuary 8, 2023diversity, learning styles, motivation, goals, competencies, experiential, feedback loop, challenges, theme, storytelling, educational game design, assessmentComment

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