Abstract:

The act of storytelling has long served as a cornerstone of human learning and meaning-making. In the tradition of Joseph Campbell, stories often revolve around a central hero who embodies moral clarity and guides audiences through a structured journey of conflict and resolution. However, with the advent of interactive digital media, a new class of narrative – what Janet Murray calls replay-multiform stories – has emerged. These stories highlight the importance of collective action and enable audiences to explore multiple versions of events, often without a heroic protagonist or definitive resolution. By emphasizing multiplicity, contingency, and interaction, replay-multiform stories challenge learners to construct meaning actively, to think systemically, and to develop empathy through engagement with diverse viewpoints. Building on these principles, this paper explores how replay-multiform narrative structures can inspire innovative learning experiences. Specifically, it shows how a card game called “Hospital Ecosystem,” translates the principles of replay-multiform design into a physical and collaborative learning space. Structured around four segments – Energy & Infrastructure, Waste & Material, Patient Care, and Staff & Community – the game encourages players to navigate complex trade-offs among environmental, social, economic, and health outcomes. Instead of a linear path or a single protagonist, stories unfold differently each playthrough based on players’ choices, chance events, and system interactions. By engaging with multiple narrative possibilities, learners practice complex decision-making and reflective thinking. The paper concludes arguing that such narrative experiences can transform learning environments into spaces of exploration, reflection, and co-construction of knowledge – hallmarks of a passionate learner community.

Keywords:

Replay-multiform story, card game, collaborative learning space, balancing environmental sustainability, passionate learner.