Consultants - Game Designer at World Health Organization

Purpose of consultancy

To design WHO Academy Game activities in preparation for the next programme releases. The consultant will contribute to post-launch game improvements and developments. The consultant will focus on transversal competencies that are applicable across learning programs in the Academy and ensure effective learning assessment.  

Deliverables: 

Deliverable 1: Game design and development.

Objective 1: Design impact-oriented serious educational game (SEG) solutions.

• Output 1.1: Organize interdisciplinary virtual game design workshops with Learning Designers, Subject Matter Experts (SME) and appropriate other WHO Academy members. Involve external stakeholders if required.
• Output 1.2: Identify and document learning needs that will be addressed by SEG solutions. Jointly work with Learning Designers to address priority learning problems defined by the WHO Academy team. These games may be part of the learning programme design (including on-site, digital, and learning lab courses), or they may be standalone games. 
• Output 1.3: Design competency-based and outcomes-oriented evaluation frameworks and design game specific learning analytics to maximize learning impact.
• Output 1.4: Produce all necessary design documentation, which may include story and character creation, scripts, narrative design/worldbuilding, detailed design specifications, flow charts, user scenarios, use cases, and/or wireframes.
• Output 1.5: Apply Gender Equity & Rights (GER) principles into learning design and development.

Deliverable 2: Game production and advisement.

Objective 2: Develop (produce) SEG activities or environments.

• Output 2.1: Provide guided instructions to development specialists (game artist, learning game developer, audio/music specialist, AR/VR producers, etc.) to produce effective, efficient and impactful gaming experiences in line with the Academy’s learning model, standards and principles. 
• Output 2.2: Liaise with internal and external partners to implement the game activities and its deployment into the Learning Experience Platform.
• Output 2.3: Advise on the most effective techniques and technologies for the design of learning games, including simulations, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, virtual patient simulations, gamified learning, non-digital games, health and medical applications and games, and other emerging technologies (e.g., machine learning, natural language processing, quantum computing).

Deliverable 3: Game research and testing.

Objective 3: Prototype, test, evaluate and improve SEG activities. 

• Output 3.1: Measure the learning effectiveness of games using qualitative and quantitative indicators. Support evaluations by conducting playtests and formative and summative assessments of games. Conduct and publish research on outcomes. 
• Output 3.2: Prototype, test, evaluate and improve SEG solutions based on feedback and data both pre- and post- programme launch. 
• Output 3.3: Augment efficiency of SEG solutions through continuous improvement loop, by measuring learner experience and by checking quality requirements. 
• Output 3.4: Conduct research on learning game science, impact and implementation. Write the appropriate research reports to be shared with other Designers within the Academy.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages.

Educational Qualifications:

Essential:

• First level University degree in one of the following fields: learning technologies, applied IT or learning innovation, game design, media or (educational) entertainment or related fields.

Desirable:

• Master’s degree or PhD in learning sciences, psychology, educational media or related field.

Experience

Essential:

• 5 to 10 years of relevant experience in design and development of SEGs.
• Experience with narrative-driven game design.
• Experience in international organizations.

Desirable:

At least 7 years of relevant experience in: 

• Project Management.
• Learning Production and/or Educational Media development.
• Implementing learning solutions in LMIC.
• In Health sector, in developing learning solutions for international audience.
• Working with World Health Organization or another UN agency.