Title: Goblin Threat plagiarism game
Audience: Lycoming College Students
Date: 2009
Software Utilized for the Project: Originally Adobe Flash
About the Project: I originally created Goblin Threat in 2009 using Adobe Flash and its programming language Action Script 2.0, which I learned from Beginning Flash Game Programming for Dummies. I created the game idea, the graphics, and the programming and worked with an intern to design the questions.
I wrote about Goblin Threat’s design and development in an article titled “Using Online Games to Fight Plagiarism: A Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Medicine Go Down,” which shows how the game is rooted in theory and research on game-based learning. Goblin Threat was always intended to be gamified tutorial rather than a game, what I often call chocolate-covered broccoli after hearing that description in a presentation. By adding game elements and some humor to an important topic that no student or instructor is excited to address, the learning experience is much more enjoyable for most students.
While I designed the game for Lycoming College students, only one question is institution-specific. I posted the link to the game in a professional listserv in response to a question by another librarian and the game quickly went viral. I received dozens of requests to use the game by other librarians and English teachers, and clearly many others were also linking to it.
In 2019, it was transferred to a current technology by a talented student intern (press release). Fifteen years later, it is still being used by high schools and colleges all over the world. It continues to get hundreds of thousands of visits each year, which is why I am still including it in my portfolio.