Develop '09: Dr Mike Reddy questions current role of educational body
Newport University's Dr Mike Reddy has suggested that Skillset's position is detrimental to the role of other bodies of a similar nature.
"The industry should be very careful about the way it wants to expand and effect education, and visa versa," said Reddy, speaking at the Develop Conference 2009. "The problem with Skillset as an umbrella is that it pushes out others like IGDA."
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In a colorful seminar devoted to exploring the relationship between developers and the educationalists training many of the industry's future staff, Reddy suggested: "educational freedom is the way forward."
The Skillset organisation, which Reddy also praised for its standards and efforts, recently granted Teeside University accreditation.
Happy to post copies of slides and audio to anyone interested in the talk, which was described as a "barn burner" by one delegate. Intended to be creatively controvercial! Seem to have achieved that.
Sorry I missed it Mike. Definitely post a link to your slides / audio.
I'll save my comments until I've seen the rest of the talk - not just your sound-bite :)
Hi Mike,
I'd like to see the slides and audio too please!
It was a superb session, so do all put the effort in to checking out Mike's slides if you missed it.
I'd love to see the slides. This article didn't really say anything. Like, what does the IGDA or other organisations do that Skillset is treading on toes with?
Slideshow for the 09 presentation now available from:
wwwDOTslideshareDOTnetSLASHDoctorMikeReddySLASHcowman09v3
Audio, which is not the best quality:
staffDOTnewportDOTacDOTukSLASHmreddy01SLASHaudioSLASHMR-games-edu09DOTmp3
[Comments appear to be blocking URLs, so apologies if this gets edited]
I've had lots of positive comments on the presentation, but one commenter above has asked the question of toe treading. Reading the notes attached to the powerpoint linked to above (requires downloading from the slideshare site to view) answers this. However, to be brief for those that don't do downloads, etc, the issue with Skillset is not with their criteria for accreditation per se, but the lack of a strong educational voice in such a development. What we have is, effectively, a National Curriculum for games courses. This, in itself is a really good thing, but Pedagogy needs to take an equal part in such debate, as much is driven purely by Industry concerns. Imagine Penguin or Wiley 'dictating' content in Creative Writing classes. Even the IGDA has only a secondary remit, via the excellent EduSIG to represent Educationalists. This needs to be more prominent. I will, reiterate the excellent work that Skillset is doing and make clear that accreditation is an ideal to be worked towards by all courses. Please contact me if you have any other questions.
I think it's a shame a thoughtful presentation on pedagogy was so mispresented in the headline. And isn't Newport University in California? Bet Dr. Mike wishes Uni of Wales Newport was though!
To my mind it's quite possible for a course to be Skillset accredited and also accommodate a whole series of other agendas and activities, including pedagogical experimentation. Both Doctor Mike and I agree that Skillset is concerned with the Skills agenda, and that University is not just there to cater for that one agenda. As an illustration, I'm not sure anyone criticises MIT for not delivering a wholly industry-ready workforce.
But Skillset accreditation is something I think Universities should look to if they want to signpost to prospective students and employers alike that they are committed to delivering the relevant skills for the industry. Skillset doesn't dictate how you run your course, or stop any other activity that doesn't share the same agenda. It's not about standardising courses, but raising standards.
