The role of computer gaming within an education setting

Youth Digital

The team at Youth Digital have produced an engaging platform that enables young students to learn about games and app design. The ease and accessibility of these courses provides schools with an opportunity to embed games design into their wider curriculum.

Students can access learning materials and other resources via Youth Digital's learning platform. If they require additional support for their studies students can access help from teachers via a live chat and messaging service.

The adjacent video showcases the 3D game design course. [1]

Gamestar Mechanic
The team at Gamestar Mechanic have developed a vibrant online community that enables students to gain access to digital and media literacy. The focus is placed on games design rather than on computer programming.

The drag and drop user interface makes games design fun and accessible to all students. Students have the opportunity to share their games with other students. They can also play and review the games that have been produced by their peers. The peer to peer review process plays a vital part in the learning process and its supports and fosters improved games design.

The adjacent video highlights the main components of Gamestar Mechanic. [2]

ChicagoQuest Schools
ChicagoQuest Schools have adapted the curriculum design model that was formulated by Quest to Learn to produce an engaging and compelling use for games technology within an education setting.

'Each trimester students encounter a series of increasingly complex, narrative challenges, games or quests, where learning, knowledge sharing, feedback, reflection and next steps emerge as a natural function of play.' [3]

The adjacent video gives a broad overview of the games approach that has been adopted so readily by the staff and students at ChicagoQuest Schools. [4]

If you require further information on social learning you may be interested in the work of Jane Hart at the Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies. [6]

Footnotes:

1. Youth Digital: http://vimeo.com/53785792. The Youth Digital YouTube channel showcases more videos.
2. Gamestar Mechanic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac_jfJzcb0U. The Gamestar Mechanic YouTube channel has many more videos.
3. Quest to Learn: http://www.instituteofplay.org/work/projects/quest-schools/quest-to-learn/
4. ChicagoQuest Schools: http://vimeo.com/78000421