The Australian Education Reporter
GAMIFYING EDUCATION
“This event is a great way for games experts to connect with teachers and help them in running a 21st century classroom.”
LAST week’s Education in Gaming Summit hosted the Victorian Games and Apps Challenge, a state-wide competition for students.
The challenge was developed after Premier Daniel Andrews visited the Microsoft offices in Seattle to discuss potential partnerships with Victoria around education, business and economic development opportunities last year.
The winner of last year’s challenge, Jason Rising from Braemar College in Woodend, will present the awards.
Jason’s game, which has just been released, explores the life of young people who experience anxiety, something he says will help build empathy and understanding in players.
Victoria’s Parliamentary Secretary for Education Judith Graley opened the Summit which involved teachers, games developers and academics sharing ideas about integrating digital technologies into the State’s curriculum.
“This event is a great way for games experts to connect with teachers and help them in running a 21st century classroom,” Ms Graley said.
“It supports and enriches delivery of the Digital Technologies curriculum in Victorian classrooms.”
During a series of panels and workshops experts discussed how games played a key role in Victoria’s pre-school, primary and secondary curriculum including STEM, digital technologies and coding, art and design.
Keynote speaker and Codename Entertainment CEO Eric Jordan demonstrated the applicability of game development skills to the modern jobs market, inspiring educators to make digital learning a cornerstone of their classroom practice.
The Education in Games Summit was part of the Melbourne International Games Week.