EtF Intro

1
EtF Intro
George 1, 2, 3

• Overview of Engineering in Schools
• Insight into project between TPLD and EtF
• Other intervention methods/assets
• EtF Work to Date, an overview
• Why GBL
• Background to EtF

2
Introductions
George

• George
• Laz
• EtF
• TPLD
• Goals of Session
• To present the work so far of our partnership and
  brief you on whats coming next

3
Engineering the Future Intro
George

• funded by Engineering and Physical Sciences
  Research Council
• based in two universities and two faculties
• because recruitment into university engineering
  courses has proved an intractable problem
• to explore alternative, sustainable ways of
  raising awareness and deepening understanding of
  engineering amongst young people in schools
• to encourage more young people to consider
  engineering as a career
• to take informed decisions about engineering as a
  possible university course
• to have experienced the sorts of thinking
  fundamental to professional engineering

4
Quote
George

• Engineering is about problem-solving. Even if
  you are trained in engineering, you dont always
  end up in engineering. You could be a project
  manager We should be making Scotland one of the
  science and technology capitals of Europe. That
  is where tomorrows jobs and wealth creation will
  be.
• Alex Neil, MSP, asked to comment on Engineering
  the Future (TESS 22/08/08)

5
Engineering the Future strands
George

• university school partnerships
• agreement on the qualities essential to becoming
  an effective engineer
• development at all stages in secondary schools of
  curricular inserts related to EEE which are
  intended to develop the knowledge, skills and
  mindsets required for engineering
• attractive careers materials
• development of university teaching and assessment
  to promote continuity
• promotion among policy communities of the
  importance of embedding engineering in school
• discussion with policy communities on embedding
  developments
• development of e-learning materials
• development of games based learning
• With GBL in mind EtF began working with TPLD in
  early 2007 to investigate the possibilities, Hand
  over to Laz to explain a bit about TPLD

6
TPLD Intro
Laz

• Core Mission
• To provide quality GBL expertise, application
  platform, and tools of choice for learning
  content developers and publishers serving their
  global markets
• Education market
• Providing both TPLD Internal Products and Custom
  Development Services to deliver GBL apps that
  have a substantial effect on students experience
  at school

7
TPLD History
Laz

• In the emerging GBL market since 2001
• we have experience in working in numerous market
  sectors
• and of project of varying scale
• 20k - 300k
• we've made it our business to be able to balance
  the demands of Games vs Subject vs Fidelity
• whilst others have been producing GBL apps that
  are poorly balanced
• the last 6 years are littered with poorly
  balanced examples
• We've focused primarily on Business and Education
  as our core markets
• but have ventured into bioscience and other areas
  over the year

8
Watching the GBL Market Evolve
Laz

• Over the last 7 years GBL has slowly become a
  respected and well understood medium that can
  dramatically enhance learning
• Whats Changed?
• We have teachers who play games
• The gaming landscape has moved from the bedroom
  to the living room
• LTS is actively supporting GBL
• GBL has been getting better
• Among other things...

9
Why use GBL?
Laz

• Engage
• Games can be used to bridge the gap between
  home/social life and the learning environment
  making learning fun and cool
• Deliver Meaningful Content and Skills
• By delivering content/skills training in context,
  learning by doing, or providing an experience
  that all students can relate to games make for a
  better way to communicate content

10
Key Projects/Products of Interest - Eduteams
Laz

• learning content
• working with others
• critical thinking
• communications
• play style
• team based problem solving
• pilots and usage
• piloted in Dundee 2006
• Initial Release In 30 Schools
• Latest release comprises major update to gameplay
  and classroom controls
• Reception
• gameplay very successful
• easy content for teachers to apply to learning
  and school
• teacher controls and accessibility required some
  attention now addressed

11
Key Projects/Products of Interest Winning Game
Laz

• learning content
• The Winning Theory
• Learning to Learn
• Personal Debriefing
• play style
• Single Player/ One on One
• Arcade style sudo sport
• pilots and usage
• numerous pilots across Scotland over the last 18
  months
• Perth High School and Glasgow School of Sport
• Reception
• Game still in development so conclusions are hard
• wide ranging support across schools and LTS for
  continuing project
• all feedback has been positive and constructive
  towards further developments
• more info to be presented at SLF'08

12
Game Design
Laz

• Balance
• Game Play
• Subject Matter
• Learning Fidelity
• Engagement
• Focus Groups
• Fully understand role and placement of games in
  school
• devise appropriate pilot and Prototypes
• Advent of more GBL 'savvy' audience

13
Agile
Laz

• We use Agile Techniques to Develop Software
• This is iterative
• We aim to get something working as early as
  possible and then add and tweak from there,
  constantly checking and demoing the work to the
  client and the end users
• benefits
• visibility
• adaptability
• value delivery
• risk

14

IP2 - Key features
Laz

• Simple control system
• Web based / deployed
• Java based thus platform agnostic
• Paging engine
• Multiplayer
• Glow Integration
• Fast yet Flexible development of various game
  types
• This concludes the TPLD, hand over to George to
  apply this to Engineering the Future...

15
EtF and games based learning

• EPSRC deliverables
• teacher views
• developments in our understanding of learning and
  motivation
• Gees principles
• Curriculum for Excellence
• personalisation and choice
• extended contexts for learning

16
EtF and games based learning
George

• initial investigation funded by Agilent
  Foundation
• collaboration with TPLD
• scoping exercise
• current development
• piloting
• synergy through involvement of Smallpeice Trust
• Hand over to Laz to briefly introduce the
  background to the Biodome Project

17

Intro to Biodome
Laz

• Project Status
• Scoping Study
• We looked at what could be done
• Created high level initial conclusion to give
  direction to the project
• First step create prototype to show how the
  possible gameplay could work
• This does not cover some of the ancillary
  features of the original concept
• Initial Prototype
• In partnership with SmallPeice Trust
• Hand over to George for more info on Scoping Study

18
Scoping exercise conclusions
George

• pupils could use gbl effectively to
• develop the knowledge, skills and mindsets which
  underpin engineering
• use these to solve real world problems in a safe
  and enjoyable virtual context
• develop the capacity to understand how
  manipulating systems causes particular effects
• try out alternative courses of action in specific
  contexts and experience consequences
• enjoy experiencing the challenge of engineering
• face increasing levels of challenge

19
Planning principles
George

• targeted at young people at the point in their
  school careers when they will be making
  significant choices about the courses they will
  study for qualification
• based on pedagogical principles known to be
  effective
• a range of scenarios will be provided each of
  which would permit players to undertake different
  roles
• modular structure
• capable of development through the addition of
  further modules to update content

20
Planning principles
George

• modules will develop the skills fundamental to
  successful engineering
• players will work together to solve a variety of
  real world, engineering-based problem
• different kinds of engineer will be required
• is independent of the detailed outcomes of any
  curricular specification
• uses concepts and knowledge that are common to
  science curricula throughout the UK
• will be capable of regular updating with relevant
  information and links

21
Planning principles
George

• consonant with governments promotion of
  integration of ICT into school teaching and
  learning
• builds on the already widespread use of ICT to
  support learning in schools across the UK
• adds value to existing teaching rather than
  seeking to replace practice seen as valuable by
  pupils and teachers
• able to be accessed within school and at home
• Lead into game detail from Laz...

22
Biodome
Laz

• Gameplay Aims
• to create a function space colony by developing
  and applying a range of technologies
• To attract the largest group of bods within the
  player group
• learning content
• Engineering Approach to Problems
• Importance of Engineering
• play style
• Multiplayer resource based strategy game

23
Biodome
Laz

• Themes
• Experimentation, trial and error, risk/reward,
  tactical and strategic decision making,
  competitive
• Learning Opportunities
• Core gameplay will demand and re-enforce
  engineering skills, thinking and approach
• Use of actual technologies to support a society
  with the associated environmental ramifications
• Links to written encyclopaedic content to
  expand on in game content
• Hand over to George for Conclusion...

24
Conclusion
George

• What Next?
• In Collaboration with TPLD we will take this to
  schools in order to further understand what
  might/might not work to promote engineering
• Well structure the pilot around a set of
  questions that will inform our future work
• Ref/Use pilot questions list from George
• Planning and preparation for further stages
• Including funding
• Questions and Suggestions