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A new games education module for school has received the backing of BAFTA and Blitz Games Studios.
The course, by e-skills UK, uses specially produced modules and real world situations to teach pupils skills including programming, app development, web design, game creation and software architecture.
The new games design module will be coming to schools piloting the Behind the Screens, which is one of e-skills UK’s programmes designed to support IT education and to encourage young people to develop the skills needed to join the technology industries.
In the project, students are challenged to design their own video game, using examples from Blitz Games, which teach them about genres, platforms, gameplay and storyboarding.
“Video Games are the entertainment media of the 21st Century and the UK already produces some of the world’s best. There are exciting career opportunities for the next generation if they learn the skills required,” said Dr Philip Oliver, CEO and co-founder of Blitz Games Studios.
“Introducing young people to technology through the media they use every day is a great way to instil an enthusiasm for the technology which underpins everything from smart-phone apps, social networking, to video games.
“By putting ‘IT’ in context, the subject is brought alive. We want students to understand and be inspired by the principles of computing and be able to unlock the potential of technology.
“The future success of the UK computer games industry depends on our ability to innovate and create new, compelling technology-enabled experiences. We need more young people with the technical and creative capability to achieve this.”
E-skills UK CEO Karen Price added: “By working with the likes of Blitz Games Studios and BAFTA, we’re developing a curriculum which is academically rigorous, as well as being engaging, highly attractive, and relevant.
“Our ambition is that this approach will enable young people to develop the scientific understanding, the problem solving capability and the creative flair to keep the UK at the forefront of a technology-enabled world.”
This partnership between BAFTA and Behind the Screen aims to give teachers and students step-by-step guidance to designing a game concept.
The finished products can be entered into the annual BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, which is awarded at BAFTA’s Children’s Awards in November. The deadline for entries is Monday, October 22nd.
