Game jams as work integrated learning
Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering Dr Simon McCallum first created his ground-breaking university course centred on game jam participation while lecturing at Gjøvik University College in Norway in 2010.
The course, which is built around the idea of Work Integrated Learning (WIL), is now an important feature of the Computer Graphics and Games major which he runs at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. It was designed to help students get the maximum benefit from participating in game jams and provide tutoring and professional support during the game jam events.
Game jams are timed events, usually running for 48 hours, where participants create games from scratch. They were initially introduced by the industry to foster creativity among staff and have evolved into a widespread innovation activity within the game development sector. These events began in 2002 and have since burgeoned into thousands of international game jams annually.
Extensive research supports the value of game jams as part of learning, and suggests they foster creativity, teamwork, practical game development skills, soft skill development, innovation, social interaction, interaction of education science and design research, positive collaboration, academic performance, and project management.
Dr McCallum highlights the advantages of game jams and hackathons in supporting student learning.
“As educators in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) our primary objective is to engage students and get them motivated to learn. Game jams and hackathons provide students with an intense development activity, which aligns with the “binge-watching” behaviour of being focused for many hours on an interesting activity.
“Game jams create shared experiences within the classroom and connect those experiences to the experiences of professionals. The temptation to use AI inappropriately is reduced as the students are working in teams and have a commitment to each other to contribute to the development of the game.”
Game jams, like other forms of WIL, are examples of the possibilities being explored and developed by course designers at Te Herenga Waka to boost students' employability and workforce readiness, a topic that aligns with the strategic direction and goals of the University.
As such, Te Herenga Waka is proudly co-hosting a conference around the theme of Work Integrated Learning—the WILNZ Conference—which will take place at the University’s Pipitea campus on 9-10 April 2024.
This year’s conference theme is ‘Thriving Together’ and will provide a platform for WIL practitioners and academics, from around Aotearoa and abroad, to discuss new ideas, best practice, and innovative research.
A free Student Showcase will be held on Monday 8 April from 4–5.30 pm in the Mezzanine foyer of Rutherford House on the Pipitea campus.
More information on the WIL Conference 2024: https://wilnz.nz/conference