In this lecture, Professor Sabrina Vieth introduces an innovative learning practice called game prototyping that allows learners to collectively conceptualize, create, and test game prototypes by completing a series of formative problem-solving tasks alongside a designated Sprint process. It is positioned at the intersection of design thinking and gamification, building on their mutual focus of constructivism and problem-based learning. Findings from this collaborative research suggest that game prototyping can contribute to the development of learners’ critical thinking skills through the application of structured teamwork, milestone planning, and bricolage, which ultimately leads to changes in critical thinking dispositions that turn learners into more confident problem solvers. Sabrina will offer recommendations for the adaptation of the game prototyping approach beyond its original context. Using this lecture as a platform for good practice sharing, she will also reflect on her experiences of turning her teaching practices into published research and how this experience kickstarted her career-defining transition from management research to pedagogical research.

About Dr Sabrina Vieth, Professor Learning & Teaching

Sabrina is Professor of Learning and Teaching at Solent Learning and Teaching Institute. She joined Solent University in October 2022. Prior to that, she was a Principal Lecturer, Head of Subject Group in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Course Leader and Research Ethics Leader at Coventry University London, where she gained experience in leading and developing academic staff and implementing metrics-driven interventions to enhance learning and teaching.

In her role, Sabrina thrives to strengthen the learning, teaching and research nexus across the university. She leads on a variety of activities such as embedding pedagogically sound employability and enterprise activities in the curriculum, modernising assessment and feedback practices to enhance inclusion and continuation, and scrutinising student engagement at all levels of study to impact continuation rates. Sabrina is also part of a steering group for the updating of Solent’s Research Ethics Compliance policy and procedures, and leads the organisation of the 2023 Solent Learning, Teaching and Research Conference. Her research interests are in the areas of innovative practices in higher education such as design thinking and prototyping and their impact on learning, teaching and curriculum design, the relationship between learner engagement and success and evidence-based approaches to enhancement activities and initiatives. Sabrina has also published research in the area of problem solving and crowdsourcing and is involved in ongoing research into university-industry collaborations in management education and the impact of Covid-19 on entrepreneurial learning.

Innovative Practices for Higher Education: The Case of Game Prototyping