Introduction to Worked Examples

James Paul Gee

Thu., June 11, 3:30–4:30, Class of ’24 (4th floor, East Central)

A worked example leverages purposively selected instances and multiple modes of discourse (e.g., videos, pictures, expositions, games, quotes, etc.) to establish an invitation, in response to which readers can engage theoretical claims along with contextual particulars that reflexively illuminate a class of phenomenon. That is, in a worked example, an expert provides a “meta” take, narrating an instance of a phenomenon in terms of mechanism and process as well as providing contextual framing, to illuminate a class of similar phenomena. The presentation both serves as a contextual instantiation of a theoretical conjecture and, by scaffolding discussion among peers around the example, invites verification or refutation of the conjecture. In this introductory presentation to the “worked examples” session, I review the functions that such artifacts serve theoretically, practically, and professionally within the growing field of games and learning.