Year of Award

2025

Document Type

Professional Paper

Degree Type

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Other Degree Name/Area of Focus

Game Design Interactive Media

Department or School/College

School of Visual and Media Art

Committee Chair

Michael Cassens

Committee Co-chair

Ashley Rezvani

Commitee Members

Michael Cassens, Ashley Rezvani, Luke Alford

Keywords

experiential realism, serious game design, teacher simulation, classroom management, interactive narrative, embodied gameplay

Subject Categories

Game Design | Graphic Design | Interactive Arts | Interdisciplinary Arts and Media

Abstract

ChallengED is a classroom simulation game designed to explore the emotional and procedural realities of teaching through interactive play. Rather than attempting to manufacture empathy, the project focuses on conveying the unpredictability, humor, and fatigue that shape daily classroom life. Drawing from my own teaching experience, the game uses experiential realism and embodied interaction to communicate how educators navigate constant interruptions, shifting demands, and limited control. The development process also became a therapeutic practice, offering a way to reinterpret professional challenges through creative experimentation. Situated within practice-based research, ChallengED demonstrates how game design can function as both artistic inquiry and a reflective tool. The project also holds potential value for pre-service teacher education by providing a low-risk environment in which players can confront the cognitive load and emotional labor of teaching. This study contributes to ongoing discussions about how serious games represent complex professions and support reflective learning.

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© Copyright 2025 Shanel Lara Locke