Developing augmented reality applications to promote digital storytelling: The cases of Choirokoitia and Sandby Borg

Drawing on Kucher’s (2021) framework on digital game-based learning (DGBL), this paper introduces the development of game-based scenarios in two culturally distinctive and salient heritage sites in Cyprus and Sweden, the Neolithic village of Choirokoitia and the Iron Age Ringfort of Sandby Borg. The aim was to implement Kucher’s (2021) five proposed principles and digital storytelling as a framework for the development of game-based Augmented Reality (AR) scenarios to promote exploration, understanding, collaboration, and learning on culturally important sites and guide users in becoming acquainted with cultural artifacts that reflect on cultural values, practices, and norms of that era. Using a bottom-up approach in the design and development process, the two case studies were designed to promote interactive and immersive learning experiences entrenched in problem-solving activities, constructive evaluative feedback, and enact opportunities for flexibility in exploration. To achieve this goal, an introductory scene and three subsequent AR game-based scenarios were developed for Choirokoitia, and an introductory scene and three subsequent AR game-based scenarios for Sandby Borg.