What These Games Have in Common

Learning through exploration

Discovery-driven experiences that encourage active investigation

Narrative as cognitive scaffold

Stories that structure and support meaningful learning

Meaningful challenges instead of quizzes

Problem-solving that connects to real understanding

Students as co-designers

Collaborative development that values learner input

Rigas' Charta

Designing Historical and Cultural Heritage Learning

Learning Focus

  • History and Geography as interconnected disciplines
  • Cultural heritage and national memory
  • Historical inquiry through primary sources and symbols

Design Choices

  • Spatial exploration of a symbolic map
  • Puzzle-based challenges linked to historical periods
  • Use of cartographic symbols as learning cues
  • Inventory, hints, and progression tied to knowledge application

Learner Experience

  • Discovery through navigation
  • Orientation in time and space
  • Active construction of historical meaning
Rigas Feraios Charta 1797 original historical map of Greece and Balkans, detailed cartographic document with Greek text and symbols, aged parchment, 18th century revolutionary map showing Greek territories
Close-up detail of Rigas Feraios Charta map showing Greek regions, Byzantine double-headed eagle symbol, Greek Orthodox crosses, historical cartographic symbols, authentic 18th century Greek revolutionary document

In the Mind of Yiannoulis Halepas

Designing Empathy, Biography, and Reflection Through Play

marble sculpture workshop with classical Greek sculptures, artistic tools, Mediterranean island setting with natural light
traditional Greek island architecture, Tinos marble craftsman workshop, artistic heritage environment

Learning Focus

  • Biography and artistic identity
  • Trauma, memory, and creativity
  • Emotional engagement and reflection

Design Choices

  • Two-level structure (light → dark)
  • Transition from third-person to first-person perspective
  • Symbolic environments and objects
  • Narrative progression aligned with psychological states

Learner Experience

  • Emotional immersion
  • Perspective-taking
  • Reflective understanding of the artist's life

Same Framework, Different Meanings

Dimension

Rigas' Charta

Yiannoulis Halepas

Content Focus

Heritage & History
Biography & Identity

Narrative Role

Spatial Journey
Inner Journey

Cognitive Emphasis

Inquiry & Synthesis
Empathy & Reflection

Learning Outcome

Collective Historical Understanding
Personal & Emotional Insight

The Learning Design Insight

Game-based learning is not one format.

It is a design language that adapts to content, learners, and meaning.