iCTLT 2016

In his paper, Video Games and The Future of Learning, David Shaffer, assistant professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Wisconsin, mentioned that video games potentially serve as tremendous educational tools. In addition, according to a recent research, action-oriented video games may increase reading comprehension in children with dyslexia. With such studies showing the benefits of game playing, what about game making? Does it have a more important place and purpose in schools?

Wellington has been teaching students how to create computer games since 2006. What started out as a project for the InfoComm Club, it grew from a school wide level, cluster and eventually a national event. This year was the biggest participation ever with over 80 teams joining in the game creation event codenamed the National Primary Games Creation Competition or more fondly known as NPGCC. But what drives the school and the ICT department to continue to pursue, extend and expand on this initiative?

The biggest change seen in students undergoing the school’s computer game creation programme was in the way students think and solve problems. It is mainly because of this outcome of students having a better and clearer thought process that led to the growth and popularity of NPGCC. Students that experienced the nine month long journey in creating their games as a team learnt planning and problem-solving. Teams planned their games that require players to search, negotiate, plan various approaches in order to advance to a new level and implement strategies. The process of understanding game rules and learning by doing provides children with essential decision-making skills. And that is only half of the story!

Participants will be invited on a journey with Wellington to see how far the school has gone since the inception of the game creation initiative. See how the school utilized opportunities from that one simple initiative to encompass InterDisciplinary Project Work, Applied Learning Programme and Coding. More importantly, the possibility for growth in the future and opportunity for collaboration amongst all schools will be offered during the presentation.

As the world continues to change in how we communicate, shop and entertain, schools must benefit from exploring the growing world of computer games creation, which we firmly believe will serve a variety of children's emotional, social and intellectual needs. Do come for an honest, interesting and light hearted session on the important growth of our students.