Teaching Game Design and Development Workshop for Teachers
Tuesday 17th September 2019 and Wednesday 18th September 2019
A workshop over two days to discuss and participate in the pedagogy of teaching Computer Games Design & Development to Secondary School Teenager Students (ICT Teachers involved in Form 3 to Sixth Form).
Teachers of Art, Music and Computing (ICT) are welcome, since this is an interdisciplinary project. Teachers must bring their own laptop/notebook for the event.
FEE: This workshop is offered FREE of CHARGE. REFRESHMENTS will be offered as two 15 –minute coffee breaks at 11:15am and 1:15pm
VENUE: Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education, Lecture Room 022, Foundation Building, Schembri Street, Hamrun HMR 1541
Day 1: Morning Session (9am — 11:00pm)
Game Design
Teaching Game Design requires exploiting students’ creativity into bringing video games to life — this being achieved through stories, characters, game rules, game mechanics and game play. We cover various approaches to help students design a game that make players feel competent and engaged.
Game Design Atoms
Puzzle Design
Chance
Skill
Additive and Subtractive Design
Casual Games
Day 1: Noon Session (11:15am — 1:15pm)
Game Design Workshop
A game design workshop will be carried out followed by a collective discussion reflecting on the practice.
Day 1: Afternoon Session (1:30pm — 3:30pm)
Concept Art
During the games design process we constantly need to portray visual representations of ideas, design and moods — Concepts! Thus this workshop covers Concept Art and what it entails. Learn about basic shapes, volumes, light and shadows and why these are important in Concept Art. Learn about Character Design, setting backgrounds, scenes and story boards. We cover various approaches and tools to help understand what it takes to be a concept artist, and how this blends well in the game design and development industry.
The participant will be exposed to:
Basics Shapes and Volumes
Light and Shadow
Perspective
Character Design
Backgrounds and Scenes
Story Boards
Day 2: Morning Session (9am — 11am)
Game Programming
This workshop covers various aspects that make up the role of a Game Developer. We look at physics engine programming, graphics engine programming, animation and user interfaces. We cover various approaches and tools to help understand what it takes to go through the stages of game development, followed by a collective discussion reflecting on how student subjects link up to these skills.
The participant will be exposed to:
Basics of Game Engines
User Interface
Detecting User Input
Game Physics
Animation
Day 2: Noon Session (11:15am — 1:15pm)
Audio Design
Teaching Audio Design involves how to create audio content and knowing the audio design process. Understanding the importance of making audio flowing with the game and how this is achieved is a key takeaway of this workshop. A focus on sound effects, and what software and hardware is necessary in the field of an audio designer is followed by a workshop using custom software for audio design. A collective discussion reflecting on the practice will conclude the session.
The participant will be exposed to:
Elements of Sound Design
Sound and Music Flow (with the Game)
Hardware and Software for Audio Design
Audio Design Process
Day 2: Afternoon Session (1:30pm — 3:30pm)
Technical Art
Blending a student’s artistic skills with the technological processes and tools made available leads to Technical art, and this workshop covers how this is the bridge between the artistic and technological aspects of a video game. Explore prototyping, logo design and sprites. Look at tools such as Adobe Illustrator to help transform the students’ creativity. We cover various approaches and tools to help you understand what it takes to be a Technical Artist in a game design setting, followed by a collective discussion reflecting on how student subjects link up to these skills.
The participant will be exposed to:
Prototyping — Perspective
Logo Design
Sprites
Book NOW
Bookings are open. Please email infodesk@stmartins.edu to reserve your seat. Booking is on a first-come-first-served basis, and teachers who are teaching computing, ICT, art and music will be given preference. The maximum number of attendees is 30 individuals.
Attendees must bring their own laptop/notebook to class.
This is an initiative by Saint Martin’s Institute of Higher Education, a Recognised Teaching Institution of the University of London, to assist in the development of human resources capacity in Entertainment and Serious Games Design & Development in Malta.
