Developed as part of my MFA thesis on game-based learning, Lumen is an educational card game developed with the classroom in mind. The responses to Lumen have been fantastic. I am currently working to perfect the project and hope to Kickstart it in late 2022. Contact me if you’d like to be added to an email list to be notified when the Kickstarter goes live.

Project Statement

Lumen is designed as a teaching tool for introductory photography students. The tabletop card game format introduces players to professional terminology useful in both critique and discussion, while also encouraging critical thinking, debate, and analysis.

To play, each player is dealt seven photo cards. At the beginning of each round, the judge reads a terminology card and players submit the most appropriate photo card from their hand. The judge then picks a winner and explains the reasoning behind their choice. Players then draw new cards to replenish their hand, and a new judge is selected for the next round. The process continues until a player wins five rounds.

Critique, the assessment and analysis of one’s work, is an essential step in any creative process. When conducted with curiosity, honesty, and respect, critique becomes a rich environment for reflection and growth. However, the critique experience can be a source of high anxiety for new students. From my own teaching observations, I noticed students hesitating to speak, out of fear of embarrassment. While many were unfamiliar with industry terms, students were also unsure of the expectations and objectives of these discussions. This would lead to a breakdown in the critique process, leaving many students feeling confused, ashamed, and dejected. This vicious cycle of insecurity and subsequent withdrawal fueled my desire to create a more effective solution to spark engaging conversations. Lumen fosters a casual, game-based environment with the hopes of reducing student anxiety leading up to class critiques.

Overview video on how to play Lumen.

Interested in game-based learning? Check out my research paper on game-based learning and Lumen. My paper is published online in Jacksonville State University’s Digital Commons. You can find it here: Game-Based Learning: Building Competence in Visual Literacy Through Simulation.

Abstract

Game-based learning is an ideal experiential learning framework for introducing the critique process to reduce student anxiety and create competence in visual literacy and self-assessment. Critique, the assessment, and analysis of one’s work is an essential step in any creative process. It is an integral part of art school. However, it can also be a source of high anxiety for new students. This paper discusses the importance of critique, the challenges associated with teaching critique, and the benefits of utilizing game-based learning. Examples of game-based learning solutions are explored, including the development of, and response to, Lumen, a card game designed to prepare students for photographic discussion and critique.