When was the last time you were engaged with a book outside of a school setting? With the middle school students I interacted with, reading was predominantly limited to “school books”, yet they could tell me the most niche details about the video games they were playing- and as a child I was the same way. As much as I enjoyed a good book, I was much more drawn to my Nintendo DS or gaming PC, playing whatever game I could get my hands on. So, I decided to combine the two ideas..
Read to Me! is a RPG-style supplemental reading app designed to inspire middle schoolers to engage with reading in an interactive and immersive way. The app combines a mystical story involving magic, wizards, dragons, and other creatures with read-aloud theory and gamification, creating a unique experience that parallels popular RPGs such as Pokemon and Legend of Zelda. The app utilizes reading techniques and content from speech therapists and literacy specialists to help engage students in skill-appropriate reading and practice. Players increase their reading skills by reading to their pet dragons and mystery creatures that they discover and raise throughout the game, all while challenging rivals and making friends. The app encourages students to practice fluent reading and asks comprehension questions, making reading practice an immersive and fun experience. I implemented several things I learned from PCE and my other courses at Harvard into this design. While many education apps are “customizable”, Read to Me! gives its users agency by allowing them to make choices on how they interact with characters, which books they’d like to read, and the pets they take care of. Additionally, the app teaches growth mindset and follows intrinsic and extrinsic motivation theories.
Watch the trailer: Trailer
Interested? Play the intro of the game now: Read to Me!
Want updates or to chat? Add me on Linkedin.
