Scupper’s Island

Using game design and role play to learn about professional ethics

Abstract

Scuppers Island is a role playing game (RPG) at http://ispg.csu.edu.au:7688/, based on a pirate code of conduct as the major part of the game play. In an educational context, game- based learning is used to teach computer ethics which can be extended to professional ethics. The purpose of the game is to let the players interact as pirates and learn about values, ethics and differences in each other’s ethical beliefs. To design the game, games design theory was researched and implemented using a set of basic rules. A game must have a hero, and must involve a quest or challenge, for it to be an effective learning tool. The authors propose that use of an online environment in teaching professional ICT ethics can be very effective if used in conjunction with traditional learning techniques.