Game2Design Project

Project Team: Cathie Howe, Simon Hutchison, Anthony Fennell
Years Active: 2007-2011

The process of understanding and applying the principles of good game design to student created games can not only improve students’ collaboration and problem solving skills, but also lay foundations for deep learning, innovation and change in 21st century classrooms. The ‘Game to Design’ project puts students in the role of designers rather than mere consumers of their technology. It provides an authentic context for effective learning using a constructivist approach that promotes inquiry learning through deconstructing, designing and building games. This project enables teachers to achieve curriculum outcomes from across Key Learning Areas and addresses all dimensions of the quality teaching framework.

Through the process of designing and building, students are asked to take on the role of a game designer. This allows students to combine their prior knowledge as game players with their new understandings of good game design. Conceptual risk taking is encouraged and rewarded and meaningful connections are made with relevant learning from other subject areas. The project also provides opportunities for students to share their work with audiences beyond the classroom and school.

Virtual Worlds Project

Project Team: Katy Lumkin, Andrew Cram, Janette Eade, Debbie Evans, Roger Buck
Years Active: 2009-2011

Virtual worlds offer opportunities for students to be innovative and creative within a safe and supportive environment. Students have fun while they explore, collaborate, design and evaluate. The 3D Virtual Worlds Project focuses on the NSW Quality Teaching framework elements of higher order thinking, engagement, connectedness, inclusivity and problematic knowledge. Are you interested in exploring how this innovative and emerging technology can make a difference to student learning? Through this project, teachers will develop and implement a unit of work within the virtual world. The project team will provide the necessary initial training and ongoing support.

Students create original work within the virtual world to meet design needs. The work could include functional objects, artworks or narratives. Students are orientated into the virtual world through a series of introductory activities such as avatar customization and simple construction training. Students will document, reflect and evaluate their learning achievements in Edmodo, a secure and collaborative learning network. Access to the virtual worlds will be available to participants for the duration of the project.