Using GPS to design narrative-centered environments for guided discovery learning: “Façade” - a case study of a nonlinear story

Abstract

This study aims to integrate educational and gaming theories and to provide suggestions for GPS narrative-centered environmental learning design. The research method is textual analysis to analyze “Façade” which is an environmental story. It is a critical case since it deploys all kinds of clues in a geographical location to tell a nonlinear story. The findings suggest that the flow chart, the hidden story and the braided plot are best suited to guide learners in narrative-centered environments. In conclusion, this study suggests that in GPS storytelling, teachers should consider which location is an important node that every learner has to go through. In each node, teachers should provide some choices, including wrong ones. Teachers also need to consider different possible ending scenarios according to learners’ self-construction. Finally, teachers have to explain different results between each learner.