WHAT WORKS IN EDUCATION The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Student Mentors Teach Game Design

In Be The Game, high school students mentor peers and use game design as a tool for teaching science, technology, engineering, and math, and the program's high tech bus travels to locations where tech facilities are not available.

By Amy Erin Borovoy (aka VideoAmy)
5/27/09
In Be The Game, high school students mentor peers and use game design as a tool for teaching science, technology, engineering, and math, and the program's high tech bus travels to locations where tech facilities are not available.
Download | Credits | Release Date: 5/27/2009

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Video Credits

Produced, Written, and Directed by

  • Ken Ellis

Coordinating Producer

  • Lauren Rosenfeld

Editor

  • Christa Collins

Production Support

  • Amy Erin Borovoy

Production Assistant

  • Doug Keely

Camera Crew

  • Brian Buckley
  • Brett Wiley
  • James Pride
  • Ken Ellis

Narrator

  • Kris Welch

Senior Video Editor

  • Karen Sutherland
  • © 2009
  • The George Lucas Educational Foundation
  • All rights reserved.

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Glossary

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics): The four academic disciplines considered the core technological underpinnings of an advanced society, according to the National Research Council and the National Science Foundation.

Game Maker: A software application that allows its users to easily develop computer games without having to learn a complex programming language.

Sources: Wikipedia.org


Discussion Questions

1. What do you think of the game-design work at McKinley? What would it take to start a similar program in your community?

2. What is the value of having mentors help students design games? How would you find similar mentors in your community?

3. Is game design a valid educational pursuit? Why, or why not?

4. What do you think of the Technology Bus? Is this a good way to help students learn STEM subjects?



Comments (2)

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Allie Patchell
Parent of two kindergarten girls.
Posted on 5/26/2011 10:37am

I have a cousin who had

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I have a cousin who had access to expensive computers and never showed an interest in learning programming or web design or anything else that might help him find a good job. Then one day his Computer Science teacher was about to give up on him and asked what he likes about computers. My cousin said games so his teacher tried to make his courses useful for games. Now my cousin is one of the best games developer at a pretty big firm. He just needed to earn his keep by doing something he really likes. I think this will really work for the kids in that class. I for one don't know what to do with one of my daughters. She likes swords. What do you think she'll be when she grows up?

Michelle Dunn
Posted on 7/23/2009 5:16pm

STudent Mentors teach video games

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I am a recent graduate of the Commonwealth institute of parent leadership with STEM. I think that this is a wonderful way to incorporate STEM daily!!!!