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Valpak (Games Based Learning Consultancy)

The Need

Valpak had acquired the UK license to distribute ECO – Battle with Detritus. This is a resource management game aimed at young people. The game offers a fun way to learn about the environment and could be used in schools or in the home.

The potential (for games-based learning) is huge, but Valpak were unsure how best to distribute the game to the intended target audience and asked pixelfountain to offer consultancy based on their experience of similar ventures to help them prepare the game for the educational and home market.

The Solution

We set up a review panel and worked with a number of schools to discover

The objectives of the pilot were to discover:

What aspects of the game are of value to education (games based learning)?
How the game could be used productively in schools
How the game address the requirements of teachers and learners?
What elicits motivation/engagement from young people
How can the game enhance the learning?

What additional materials are required to support the use of the game
How the game meets the following learning objectives:

To understand environmental issues such as waste, energy and pollution.
To understand how environmental issues n terms of sustainability.
To encourage problem solving and improve decision making (critical thinking).
To encourage group working and discussion.
To motivate individuals to apply the learning to their own lives.

We also developed additional materials to support the games based learning.

Outcomes

We provided a comprehensive report that analysed the feedback from young people, students and teachers. We made recommendations including how to modify the game, how best to use it in an educational setting, and how to take the product to market.

Note: pixelfountain has utilised all it’s education experience to set up a

dedicated games based learning venture - games-ED.