What is RefQuest?
RefQuest is an online learning game aimed at teaching students about academic referencing. Since its launch, RefQuest has gone on to win multiple awards in the learning and teaching space.
Project background
Our team was approached by the WSU Library to build upon a physical referencing card game where students had to correctly rearrange a number of cards which combine to form a full academic reference.
Initial observations and testing
The first step was to run a testing session where students were introduced to this activity. To add on to this, I created additional game types for the students: Fill in the blanks and Multiple Choice
While students were happy to engage with the card game, I noticed that they would have to repeat the process a number of times before they began to retain the information.
Following the testing session, I provided an exit survey for the participants:
Results reinforced that the majority of students were happy to participate in the activity
Many reported a slight increase in confidence for memorising referencing formats
However, very few indicated that it provided a significant increase in confidence
The majority of participants indicated that they enjoyed fill in the blank and multiple choice game types
85% of responders felt that a 10-15 minute experience would be ideal for them
With these results in mind, the team decided on a few key design decisions for our referencing game:
As students relied on repetition for learning, we wanted to create a faster paced game with rapid feedback
Slowly ramp up the difficulty to give a sense of progression and give depth to the 3 game types
Provide a loose narrative to guide and motivate the students.
Early designs and further testing
Mid-fi designs for the Card Shuffle and Fill in the blanks minigames
With a simplified build of each of the game types, our team created a simple test build with 20 student participants:
Only 8 of the 20 students were able to make it to the end of the build
Many participants noted that the added timer was too short
Students commented that having only one opportunity to learn each reference type was not enough
It was clear from the results that we needed to dial back the difficulty of the experience.
The game would be spread out over 5 levels instead of 3, meaning students would have to learn less reference types per level
The player would replenish their lives between each level
A “review” feature was added allowing students another chance to learn the reference types needed for the level
Final Designs
Impact
The team at the Western Sydney University Library was extremely pleased with the final product, and it has gone on to be placed on the front page of the WSU’s Online Learning Management System. In 2021, our team was awarded at 2021 WSU Excellence awards.
RefQuest has met critical acclaim even outside of Western Sydney University:
What is RefQuest?
What is RefQuest?
What is RefQuest?
RefQuest is an online learning game aimed at teaching students about academic referencing. Since its launch, RefQuest has gone on to win multiple awards in the learning and teaching space.
RefQuest is an online learning game aimed at teaching students about academic referencing. Since its launch, RefQuest has gone on to win multiple awards in the learning and teaching space.
RefQuest is an online learning game aimed at teaching students about academic referencing. Since its launch, RefQuest has gone on to win multiple awards in the learning and teaching space.
Project background
Project background
Project background
Our team was approached by the WSU Library to build upon a physical referencing card game where students had to correctly rearrange a number of cards which combine to form a full academic reference.
Our team was approached by the WSU Library to build upon a physical referencing card game where students had to correctly rearrange a number of cards which combine to form a full academic reference.
Our team was approached by the WSU Library to build upon a physical referencing card game where students had to correctly rearrange a number of cards which combine to form a full academic reference.
Initial observations and testing
Initial observations and testing
Initial observations and testing
The first step was to run a testing session where students were introduced to this activity. To add on to this, I created additional game types for the students: Fill in the blanks and Multiple Choice
The first step was to run a testing session where students were introduced to this activity. To add on to this, I created additional game types for the students: Fill in the blanks and Multiple Choice
The first step was to run a testing session where students were introduced to this activity. To add on to this, I created additional game types for the students: Fill in the blanks and Multiple Choice
While students were happy to engage with the card game, I noticed that they would have to repeat the process a number of times before they began to retain the information.
Following the testing session, I provided an exit survey for the participants:
Results reinforced that the majority of students were happy to participate in the activity
Many reported a slight increase in confidence for memorising referencing formats
However, very few indicated that it provided a significant increase in confidence
The majority of participants indicated that they enjoyed fill in the blank and multiple choice game types
85% of responders felt that a 10-15 minute experience would be ideal for them
With these results in mind, the team decided on a few key design decisions for our referencing game:
As students relied on repetition for learning, we wanted to create a faster paced game with rapid feedback
Slowly ramp up the difficulty to give a sense of progression and give depth to the 3 game types
Provide a loose narrative to guide and motivate the students.
While students were happy to engage with the card game, I noticed that they would have to repeat the process a number of times before they began to retain the information.
Following the testing session, I provided an exit survey for the participants:
Results reinforced that the majority of students were happy to participate in the activity
Many reported a slight increase in confidence for memorising referencing formats
However, very few indicated that it provided a significant increase in confidence
The majority of participants indicated that they enjoyed fill in the blank and multiple choice game types
85% of responders felt that a 10-15 minute experience would be ideal for them
With these results in mind, the team decided on a few key design decisions for our referencing game:
As students relied on repetition for learning, we wanted to create a faster paced game with rapid feedback
Slowly ramp up the difficulty to give a sense of progression and give depth to the 3 game types
Provide a loose narrative to guide and motivate the students.
While students were happy to engage with the card game, I noticed that they would have to repeat the process a number of times before they began to retain the information.
Following the testing session, I provided an exit survey for the participants:
Results reinforced that the majority of students were happy to participate in the activity
Many reported a slight increase in confidence for memorising referencing formats
However, very few indicated that it provided a significant increase in confidence
The majority of participants indicated that they enjoyed fill in the blank and multiple choice game types
85% of responders felt that a 10-15 minute experience would be ideal for them
With these results in mind, the team decided on a few key design decisions for our referencing game:
As students relied on repetition for learning, we wanted to create a faster paced game with rapid feedback
Slowly ramp up the difficulty to give a sense of progression and give depth to the 3 game types
Provide a loose narrative to guide and motivate the students.
Early designs and further testing
Early designs and further testing
Early designs and further testing
Mid-fi designs for the Card Shuffle and Fill in the blanks minigames
Mid-fi designs for the Card Shuffle and Fill in the blanks minigames
With a simplified build of each of the game types, our team created a simple test build with 20 student participants:
Only 8 of the 20 students were able to make it to the end of the build
Many participants noted that the added timer was too short
Students commented that having only one opportunity to learn each reference type was not enough
It was clear from the results that we needed to dial back the difficulty of the experience.
The game would be spread out over 5 levels instead of 3, meaning students would have to learn less reference types per level
The player would replenish their lives between each level
A “review” feature was added allowing students another chance to learn the reference types needed for the level
With a simplified build of each of the game types, our team created a simple test build with 20 student participants:
Only 8 of the 20 students were able to make it to the end of the build
Many participants noted that the added timer was too short
Students commented that having only one opportunity to learn each reference type was not enough
It was clear from the results that we needed to dial back the difficulty of the experience.
The game would be spread out over 5 levels instead of 3, meaning students would have to learn less reference types per level
The player would replenish their lives between each level
A “review” feature was added allowing students another chance to learn the reference types needed for the level
With a simplified build of each of the game types, our team created a simple test build with 20 student participants:
Only 8 of the 20 students were able to make it to the end of the build
Many participants noted that the added timer was too short
Students commented that having only one opportunity to learn each reference type was not enough
It was clear from the results that we needed to dial back the difficulty of the experience.
The game would be spread out over 5 levels instead of 3, meaning students would have to learn less reference types per level
The player would replenish their lives between each level
A “review” feature was added allowing students another chance to learn the reference types needed for the level
Final Designs
Final Designs
Final Designs
Impact
Impact
Impact
The team at the Western Sydney University Library was extremely pleased with the final product, and it has gone on to be placed on the front page of the WSU’s Online Learning Management System. In 2021, our team was awarded at 2021 WSU Excellence awards.
RefQuest has met critical acclaim even outside of Western Sydney University:
The team at the Western Sydney University Library was extremely pleased with the final product, and it has gone on to be placed on the front page of the WSU’s Online Learning Management System. In 2021, our team was awarded at 2021 WSU Excellence awards.
RefQuest has met critical acclaim even outside of Western Sydney University:
The team at the Western Sydney University Library was extremely pleased with the final product, and it has gone on to be placed on the front page of the WSU’s Online Learning Management System. In 2021, our team was awarded at 2021 WSU Excellence awards.
RefQuest has met critical acclaim even outside of Western Sydney University:
RefQuest
RefQuest
RefQuest
An award winning learning experience that teaches through gamification.
An award winning learning experience that teaches through gamification.
An award winning learning experience that teaches through gamification.
Areas:
Areas:
Areas:
Game Design / Testing / UX Design
Game Design / Testing / UX Design
Game Design / Testing / UX Design
Next project:
Virtual Lab
Testing / Research / UX + UI design
Recreating a real life Civil Engineering lab into an online experience
Virtual Lab
Testing / Research / UX + UI design
Recreating a real life Civil Engineering lab into an online experience
Next project:
Virtual Lab
Testing / Research / UX + UI design
Recreating a real life Civil Engineering lab into an online experience
Next project: