Week 2 · Define

Identify GEHS Systems & Culture

Break down the areas, systems, and concepts inside Gibson Ek's culture — and decide which ones become your game. Save it as a PDF copy on your laptop to share with your group.

Team membersDate

Part 1: The Big Picture

Before a game can be about Gibson Ek, we have to name what Gibson Ek actually is. Work as a team.

In one to two sentences for each grade level, describe the main focus of the 101s, 201s, 301s, and 401s.What makes Gibson Ek different from a traditional high school?

Which words best describe the culture here?

Part 2: Mapping the Systems

Every school runs on systems — structures that shape what students do. List what you know about each Gibson Ek system, then mark how it could become part of a game.

System	What happens here?	Who is involved?	Game idea: what could this become? (a space, a card, a challenge…)
Advisory
Personalized learning plans
Projects & project blocks
Internships / mentorships
Exhibitions of learning
Competencies & graduation requirements
Learning teams / studios
Community events & culture days
Another system we noticed

Part 3: The Player's Journey

A board game needs a path. Map the real milestones a Gibson Ek student passes through.

The journey, in order:

Starting point (a new student…)

Early milestone

Middle milestone

Hard moment or setback

Turning point

Final challenge

Graduation!

Which of these milestones would make the most exciting game moments? Why?

Part 4: Obstacles and Helpers

Good games have things that slow you down and things that help you. Gibson Ek has both.

System	Real Gibson Ek challenge	How could it work in the game?
Obstacle 1
Obstacle 2
Obstacle 3

System	Real Gibson Ek support (people, resources, habits)	How could it work in the game?
Helper 1
Helper 2
Helper 3

Where should the challenge in our game come from?

Part 5: People of Gibson Ek

Characters make a game feel real. Who shows up in the Gibson Ek story?

Should players be themselves, or play a character? What would each choice feel like?

Part 6: Define the Game

Now pull it together. This is the Define phase: turn your map into decisions.

Our one-sentence pitch: In our game, players…Who plays, what they do, and how they reach graduation.

Our game will be:

The three Gibson Ek elements our game MUST include:One thing we love about Gibson Ek that we want players to feel:Questions we still need to answer before we design further:

All done?

Save it as a PDF copy on your laptop to share with your group.

Who	Include	What role could they play in the game?
Students
Advisors
Mentors / internship hosts
Families
Community partners
Visiting experts
Other