Using commercial ‘off the shelf’ computer games in the classroom: Findings from the Unbox21 Project
With Dr Tim Rudd (University of Brighton)
Wednesday 15 May 2013
4.00pm to 6.30pm
Room 501, Checkland Building, Falmer
The Unbox21 project is a British Council funded research and development project exploring the potential of commercial ‘off the shelf’ computer games in both Indian and English classrooms. The year-long project involved forty schools and specifically sought to explore the potential commercial computer games might have to support learning and teaching in science, and to enhance 21st Century learning skills. The project had three partners: The University of Brighton; Imagine Education; and the Science Learning Centre (South West), who worked with teachers through a programme of support and professional development activities.
The research offers insights into the impacts, what worked well, the varied contexts and approaches, and the challenges faced by teachers in utilising such games in the classroom. The findings also reflect on the particular affordances of the games, but as importantly, to the project design and emphases, which might help inform the development of similar projects in the future and wider professional development approaches.