Digital game making: a MAGICAL learning experience

Abstract

Advocates and practitioners of Game Based Learning the world over are increasing turning to game making as a path to learning that’s a “level up” from the simple playing of digital games. This workshop will examine the current state of the art in the field and present best practices emerging from MAGICAL, a European project dedicated to collaborative game making and the affordances this approach offers for activating 21st century skills in primary schools. These outcomes are the fruit of pilot experiences carried out in a variety of school settings across Europe, including primary music classes in Greece. Following a short introduction, workshop participants will engage in game making first-hand using MAGICAL-developed tools. They’ll have the chance to create educational games and to test different ways to implement game-making activities. Attention will be focused on deploying the approach in support of curriculum-specific learning and also for activating key transversal skills such as collaboration, creativity and problem solving. Participants should come away with: - an overview of the theoretical rationale underpinning learning by game making; - insight into successful pedagogical practices for implementing the approach; - know-how in using and deploying simple game making tools; - useful resources and support for integrating game making in their teaching. The workshop will be run by members of the MAGICAL project team.