Teaching with Frankenstories

Before we get into Approval Mode, we should talk about what makes Frankenstories fun.

This is important because you want to preserve these qualities as you start pushing students to work harder.

What makes Frankenstories fun

• Low stakes—games are disposable, ephemeral
• Fast pace—no time to overthink, jump in, keep moving
• Constraints—provide challenge & scaffolding, relieve some personal responsibility
• Social play—share ideas, help each other out, build relationships
• Intense focus—flow state, good stress
• Constant surprise—direction changes every few minutes
• Live feedback—hearts, votes, wins
• Collaborative process—everyone plays a part, multiple valuable roles
• Creative result—something that didn’t exist 30 mins before (and sometimes the result is great!)