District Administration - November 2012 - (Page 53)

advertisement The Role of Game Design in STEM Education Author: Mark Philipp It is important that schools offer quality STEM curriculum. Game Design is one of the best ways to get students involved in STEM education. The teaching of game design addresses every part of STEM. As a result of Gamification, Game Design concepts are widely used in many industries, making it an important skill for students when they enter the workforce. Science: In order to create a game, it is necessary to understand the basic concepts of Computer Science. Many students would be more engaged by a Game Design course versus a more traditional Computer Science course. Game Design is a fun and clever way to teach Computer Science, a field that continues to increase in demand. Technology: It is impossible to design games without having knowledge of computers and how they work. This even goes down to how a computer utilizes its hardware. Games work directly with ever-changing computer technology. For a student to design a game, they must have a grasp on the technology that makes it possible to do so. Engineering: Game Design helps teach students about Electrical Engineering to a certain extent. In order to program efficiently, one must understand how certain programming operators interact with Assembly language. A student who better understands how computer hardware works and interacts will be able to program a better, more efficient program or game. Plus, you may have to have buildings within the game. These buildings may need to be able to be destroyed and collapse in a realistic matter. Many game engines have Physics systems built into them that allow for these sorts of dynamics. If one understands Engineering concepts, then they can design a more realistic game. Mathematics: Mathematics is probably the most prevalent discipline found in Game Design. 3D Modeling and Programming, the two trades most involved in game development, are heavily based on mathematical concepts. Any student who is getting into game design will HAVE to learn higher math disciplines such as Calculus, Physics, Linear Equations, and much more. It is because of the concepts of Physics and Calculus that we are able to create realistic video games with realistic body movement, weather effects, etc. For many, one of the best ways to learn advanced Mathematics is through programming. Many students who get into Game Design are really interested in it. As such, their curiosity drives them to figure out a solution to a common programming problem they might have. A student may not even understand Calculus when they started the project, but the passion to see their game come to life encourages them to go to the internet and research the Calculus concepts necessary to accomplish their goal. Classroom Solutions Unity is at the forefront of game design curriculum because it is affordable and easy-to-use right out of the box. The ability for Unity to import and utilize CAD models is tremendous in the education sector. With this foundation, you can effectively create a workflow between Engineering students, Architecture students, 3D Modeling students and Game Design students to create realistic environments that players are able to walk around and interact with. Unity Pro Game Academy for Secondary Schools Unity Licenses for Colleges + Universities Learn More Get more information about Unity game design and upcoming webinar dates discussing Game Design programs for schools. Call 888-561-7521 or email unity@studica.com Gamification is taking Game Design concepts and applying them to other disciplines. One of the best examples of gamification is the case of Foldit. Foldit was an online game created by University of Washington researchers in 2008. Foldit asked players to figure out the complex three-dimensional structures of proteins. Players are asked to manipulate the proteins. They are awarded a higher score based on how stable the protein structure they came up with was. Players were eventually able to figure out the structure of a protein that is crucial in the replication of HIV. This specific protein structure had eluded researchers for a long time but gamers on Foldit were able to figure it out in a matter of weeks.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - November 2012

District Administration - November 2012
Contents
From the Editor
News Update
District Profile
Administrator Profile
Flipping the Script in K12
Sustainable Professional Development
Brave New World of Teacher Evaluation
Philadelphia’s “Servant- Leader” Superintendent
Enhancing School Access Control
New Products
Professional Opinion
New Directions

District Administration - November 2012