MANAGING ICT
Greg Hodgson
from Chalfonts
Community
College
Designs on
discusses a games design
workshop he set up with a
partner school in the US
the future
ROWING UP, I was never interested
G
in video games. They were there,
admittedly in their infancy, but I
never found them engaging enough.
Today by contrast, the sophistication
and opportunities they create for
students and educators alike have
opened a whole new world to me.
A while back, I was at an education conference
where I met Roxana Hadad, an instructional and project
designer at North Western University in Chicago.
We got to talking about new ways of communicating
with students – things that we thought could really help
break down the barriers and reach children on a level
that would actually resonate with them.
Too often in education we have to reach a
compromise between the traditional curriculum and For example, during the course students were able based on the response we got from the student body we to build what became our very successful pilot project.
material that will prepare students more specifically for to speak with Greg Trefry, who worked for GameLab opened it to all and in hindsight it was one of the best Throughout the entire process, Creative Junction has
the industries and careers which interest them most. in Manhattan and is responsible for smash hits like decisions we could have made. Students who might been very supportive and we could not have done it
A paradox that is beginning to get some much Lego Fever and Chicken/Egg. It is this kind of industry not have been previously considered have excelled, without them.
deserved attention at government level, particularly credibility that students can immediately recognise, and a lot of it has to do with the way the information is For now, the workshop is offered only as an extra-
highlighted by the recent Creative Britain report and the which is so often lacking from more traditional learning reaching them. curricular activity. However, we are looking at how to
introduction of 14 to 19 Diplomas. methods. At first, they just wanted to talk about games in incorporate it into the new creative and media Diploma
In the report, the creative industry is noted as one Using a VLE was hugely beneficial for bringing in general, but as they began to unravel the structure, and support the Creative Britain strategy.
to watch, support, and grow. It currently employs more industry gurus from all over the world, like Mr Trefry. story-boarding techniques, the purpose of rules, setting We are also looking at alternative forms of
than two million people in the UK and contributes £60 It also meant having access to technology that allowed objectives, plotlines, narratives, layer design, and accreditation as the students have fed back their desire
billion to our GDP. The report also highlights the need us to share screens with the students who could follow prototyping, the student’s understanding of both games to gain an industry standard qualification, such as
for greater focus on how we are preparing our students along in real time, and engage with the lessons in a way and design really took hold. the Adobe Certified Expert tag, which we are also
to not just join, but to lead this sector of the economy. traditional book-based learning has never led to. It even had some beneficial, if unexpected, knock- pursuing.
With this in mind, and after many discussions The virtual conferencing sessions were also recorded on effects to other areas of study. For instance, the When the whole process began we had a feeling
and preparation with Roxana at North Western, we and stored online, so students that could not attend a class on audio production in video games naturally there was going to be a hunger for a course like this, but
launched our 10-week pilot programme: the Chalfonts class for whatever reason could catch up in their own complemented much of the coursework in the sciences; I do not think Roxana or I really appreciated just how
Games Design Workshop. An extra-curricular course time, or just revisit previous classes at their leisure for and even the time spent discussing the importance of effective this method of learning would be.
teaching video game design that convened once a week revision. noun and verb analysis was of considerable benefit Having seen just how well it engaged with the
using a virtual learning environment (VLE). While games design touches on many of the same to students who previously might have had difficulty digital minds of our students, and seeing how easily
Each week, students met using a virtual conferencing principles taught in traditional coursework, the way it putting grammar lessons into context. the technology can integrate into traditional lessons to
tool. We linked to Roxana in Chicago who recapped is presented, and the way students are able to engage Working with Creative Junction, the local arm enrich the experience, I cannot imagine a world where
what the course had covered and introduced various with it is remarkably different. You can see it in their of Creative Partnerships, we were able to gauge to courses like these are not the norm. SecEd
guest speakers from different areas of the gaming eyes when they start connecting the dots between what extent this course would be successful among
industry. the theoretical elements of design and the practical students. • Greg Hodgson is a senior leader at Chalfonts
The aim of the pilot programme was to help students applications of what they are building. We spoke to the students to learn how we could Community College in Buckinghamshire. The project
understand the bigger picture of what takes a video Originally, we thought the programme ought to be improve their educational experience. We then was carried out using the virtual conferencing tool,
game from idea to product. trialled using a selected group of elite students, but combined their feedback with our own experiences, Adobe Connect.
Great prizes to be won!
It’s competition time again
up with SecEd to offer two lucky teachers the chance to
each win a one-year licence of the brand new secondary
The questions
school online interactive reporting and management
and SecEd readers have the
To win in the TeamBoard competition, just tell
tool, worth £1,000.
us how many years the TeamBoard RT 77”(4:3)
Further to the imminent 2010 government
chance to win thousands of
requirement for every secondary school to address
surface is guaranteed for.
the Assessing Pupils’ Progress (APP) framework,
To win in the Classroom Monitor competition,
pounds worth of resources
Prime Principle is launching a new online interactive just tell us how many primary schools are already
markbook for secondary schools at BETT 2010 called
using Classroom Monitor.
for their school in two
Classroom Monitor Secondary.
Already used by 1,200 primary schools, the revised
How to enter
secondary school version of the tool has been tailored
fantastic competitions
To be in with a chance of winning these prizes,
are designed to accelerate learning by increasing to meet the specific demands for key stage 3 and 4
email your answers to the above questions,
engagement, improving retention, and fostering an assessment.
enthusiasm for learning. In addition to the ability to record each student’s
including your name, school and contact details,
ITH 2010 firmly underway, Its low-glare Versa surface offers a dry-erase writing on-going assessment, the intuitive and easy-to-use
to Pete Henshaw, the editor of SecEd, on
W
it is high time for another and projection surface, suited for projection, so that the tool enables teachers to add “evidence” and “content” pete.henshaw@markallengroup.com
SecEd giveaway. This image can be viewed from any angle and seat in the elements to also address the Assessment for Learning
You can also post entries on a postcard to
time, we are offering all room. (AfL) initiative.
SecEd Competitions, St Jude’s Church, Dulwich
UK secondary schools the TeamBoard Total Mobile is a mobile, interactive Classroom Monitor Secondary permits staff and
chance to win in two great whiteboard stand which enables users to integrate pupils to periodically “consider” significant written
Road, Herne Hill, London, SE24 0PB.
competitions. the TeamBoard and projector into one mobile, slim, and oral evidence of attainment, “review” the evidence
The deadline for entries is Friday, February 26.
The first is offering the chance to win £3,500 worth adjustable unit that is both mobile and finger-touch using the assessment guidelines, and “judge” and assess The two competitions are open to all UK
of interactive whiteboard and kit from TeamBoard; height adjustable by the presenter with no technician overall subject levels to consider whether performance
secondary schools, but are restricted to one entry
the second is offering two winning readers a free one- required. is high, secure, or low within the level.
per school per competition.
year licence each to the Classroom Monitor online It can be wheeled around and fits through standard- Reports can be generated from the data input into
interactive reporting and management tool for their sized doors without the need to recalibrate. the system to give a granular view of each student’s
Please note: if you intend to enter both
schools, worth £1,000. See below for full details of the TeamBoard Total Mobile provides schools with development and can be viewed by senior staff and
competitions, please send two separate emails or
prizes and for how to enter. Good luck! greater flexibility and is suitable for teaching with parents to address areas requiring attention. postcards.
pupils of all ages and abilities. With 67cm of vertical For more information, visit www.classroommonitor.
TeamBoard
Normal SecEd terms and conditions apply. For
height adjustment available to the presenter at the co.uk
a copy of these or for further information, email
Interactive whiteboard manufacturer, TeamBoard is press of a button, the height can be adjusted without
offering SecEd readers the chance to win a TeamBoard interrupting the flow of the presentation.
pete.h@markallengroup.com
Total Mobile stand, projector and TeamBoard worth For more information, visit www.teamboard.com or
The winning schools in each competition will
more than £3,500. email peter@teamboard.com be drawn at random from the correct entries and
The TeamBoard RT 77”(4:3) is a finger-touch
controlled interactive whiteboard with a guaranteed-to-
Classroom Monitor
announced in SecEd during March. All entries will
be passed on to the respective companies.
clean surface, protected under warranty for 10 years. Prime Principle Ltd, developers of the award-winning
TeamBoard’s award-winning interactive whiteboards interactive markbook Classroom Monitor, has teamed
SecEd • January 14 2010 11
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