The idea is to create a game that assists students with learning the proper citation formats. The game is a downloadable phone app which can also be accessed on the web. Once the student has successfully downloaded the app, the user can start to use the app right away. As the user first starts the app, they see a splash screen on which is displayed the games’ logo and catch-phrase. Also, on the introduction slide, the user is prompted to enter their unique user name and password. Every student will have their own unique user name and password so that their progress can be saved and tracked and also that their points can be stored and associated with them for future instances where they may want to redeem those point for various rewards across the campus. After the student is successfully logged on, the game prompts the user to select a citation format. The game consists of the following citation formats:  APA, MLA, AMA, Turabian and Chicago. There is a “Quiz Me!” and a “Help Me!” button on this screen. If the student chooses a format and then selects the “Quiz Me!” button this will allow the user to begin the citation games, following the chosen format for as long as desired. The student can navigate backward to choose a different format and begin again for as long as desired.  If the student selects the “Help Me!” button, the game will provide an animated example of how the citation game works.  The animation will show how the citation is constructed in a proper format in a timely manner. The “Help Me” button also provides information about us, the founders of the game, gives the detailed information about each citation format. This pages gets students familiarized with the games rules as well.  Once the format and the “Quiz Me! button is selected for the game, the game will take the user to the quiz screen where the citation components will be provided in a scrambled format. Every citation format consists of different components and thus the student must be able to identify the citation style and the type of source being formatted in order to properly unscramble the provided information correctly in less than 30 seconds. Our game differs from other games because we have a timer and the user is forced to type the answer allowing the user to become more intimately familiar with producing a proper citation in a similar fashion as they would when creating their reference page for any paper. The game has a timer of 30 seconds to assemble the citation components correctly and add a bit of anxiety and fun to the game. Upon completion of the citation game within 30 seconds, the student will be awarded points. The game offers incentives such as redeemable points that are awarded for every correct answer and can be redeemed for various things on campus such as free printing, cups of coffee, or small snacks.

Our first source is a game that was created by the Willams College Libraries called Citation Game. The game makes you choose a citation format and then quizzes the user with 10 questions. The game asks the user multiple choice questions to help the user learn the components. The user will be given the citation in proper format and the user must then pick the part of the citation that the question asks. Some examples of the parts the user will be asked for are title, author, date, place of publication and type of citation (i.e. newspaper article, journal, book and book chapter).

Our second source is a game that was created by the University of Washington called APA and MLA Citation Game. The game will ask the user to select either APA or MLA format. The user will then select a source type (i.e. book, online encyclopedia, music recording, periodicals and scholarly journals) to get the components of the citation. The user will then get the components of the citation in white tabs, which they must then click and drag into the game screen. The user must place the components in the correct order to create the citation. The user will get two tries to complete the citation correctly. After the two tries, a screen will pop up giving the user their score and the citation in its correct form.

Our final source is a game that was created by James Madison University called Citation Tic-Tac-Toe. The game will present the user with a blank tic-tac-toe board and the user will be asked to select a square. Once that happens, the user will then be presented with a citation and then asked a multiple choice about what kind of citation is being presented, for example book, newspaper article, journal or government publication. If the user gets it correct, they will get the square and if the user is incorrect, then the computer will get the square. The first to reach three squares in a row will win the game.