Integrating Interactive Narratives Into Your Courses

[Phill Cameron]

[Draft]

In this workshop we will rocket through an introduction to interactive narratives and two of their development platforms. Then, after our brief survey of the field, we will get started with TWINE, which is an established interactive narrative development platform.

Currently, interactive narratives are primarily fictional, such as the work of “Mx. Dietrich Squinkifer … who creates games and playable experiences about gender identity, social awkwardness, and miscellaneous silliness.” However, there is also a growing body of "serious" content (for example, www.depressionquest.com) created within the genre. 

The robust nature of the development platforms, and near limitless possibilities of the interactive narrative genre, create many novel experiences that can be leveraged in academic environments. 

During this session, we will explore two examples of interactive narratives, then we will brainstorm how we might use interactive narratives in our classes.

We will have time at the end of the session to begin making a TWINE narrative. 

If you would like, you may bring a writing assignment to this session, so it can be developed in TWINE.

[Phill Cameron]

One of my favorite things about incorporating interactive narratives into writing courses is the empowering nature of providing students with meaningful choices within either their readings or their writings.

[Phill Cameron]

These meaningful choices lead to learner autonomy which is one third of what creates intrinsic motivation, according to the theory of Self-Determination (Ryan & Deci, 2000). In this session participants will brainstorm ways of increasing intrinsic motivation through the use of interactive narratives, utilizing the theory of Self Determination.