Free event for educators who are Game to Learn!
Most of us would agree that even from our earliest experiences, learning is deeply connected with play. However it is hard to break the assumption that games are fun and that education is something entirely more serious…
With a range of free events over 17th-19th March Game to Learn: Take 2! Scotland’s largest Games-based Learning conference aims to dispel this myth and set the record straight.
Organised by Learning and Teaching Scotland’s Consolarium and hosted at the University of Abertay Dundee, the Saturday Programme offers both a fun-packed CPD event for teachers as well showcasing the innovative and effective work of some of the many practitioners in Scotland who have embraced games-based-learning.
The LTS Consolarium has been working with partner schools across Scotland to help nurture the idea that commercially available computer games, that have been developed for entertainment, can be used to help create challenging contexts for learning.
There is a developing culture of games design in our schools and a growing expectation that Scottish learners have capability to create and not just consume computer games. Visitors to Scottish schools should not be surprised to find games such as Nintendogs, Eyepet, Professor Layton, Dr Kawashima or Guitar Hero playing a central role in learning and teaching.
Our children are creative and talented, experiences such as these can help them realise and extend their ability.
As well as sharing innovative practice the day also offers hands-on activities aimed at developing confidence and competence in this field. These range from computer games design skills from the early stages all the way through to S6 as well as exploring treasure hunting via geocaching and a games-based learning dance session!
This free conference promises to deliver an exciting and inspiring CPD experience for those involved in education. I look forward to seeing you there.”
Derek Robertson, Learning and Teaching Scotland