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Game Designer Studio


Course
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For someone else
Quantity
For someone else
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Learn to Create Games!

Pathway: Game Design Stage: Intermediate
Age:  11-15 Grade (US): 6-10
Pathway: Game Design
Age:  11-15
Stage: Intermediate
Grade (US): 6-10

This course will introduce you to the principles and practices of portable game design on phones, tablets, and PCs. Using the online block-based programming site, Scratch, you will build your knowledge and skills in game design and development including planning, testing, level design, and basic physics, without requiring prior knowledge in coding. In addition to building a foundation of Game Design skills, you will create personalized game assets (images and sounds) and learn how to import them into an original game that others can play.

Learning Outcomes

1

Understand the essential elements of games

2

Use block-based coding (Scratch) to develop an online game that incorporates essential game elements and game theory

3

Learn key concepts of coding

4

Create prototypes and engage in user testing

Method of Instruction

This course is intended for instructor delivery, either in-person or remotely. All instructional resources (lesson slide, handouts, quizzes, assessments, etc) can be downloaded for individual teacher customization and use. Should you have any questions regarding the curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact Digital Media Academy Support through the LMS.

 

Teacher Guide

The Teacher Guide contains all information required to deliver this Digital Media Academy Foundations course.

 

Curricular Connections Guide

Science, Language Arts, and Math curriculum integrations build student competency in core academic subjects while addressing essential, 21st-century technology skills. This Curricular Connections Guide is designed to spark your imagination of how to bring this course to life in your own classroom.

Standards Alignment

This course is aligned to national and international standards for technology education. Standards include: International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), International Baccalaureate , UK National Curriculum, New Zealand Curriculum, and more!

Required Materials & Equipment

  • Access to a Computer or Tablet with an internet connection
  • Scratch (free account online)
  • Paper/index cards/post-its, pen/pencils/markers

Career Pathways 

Game Designer, Game Developer, Programmer, App Developer, Sound Engineer, Video Game Designer, Animator, Graphic Designer, Filmmaker

Here is the course outline:

Getting Started

Read me first.

1 section
Getting Started

Teacher Resource

Read for course description, learning outcomes, teacher guide, required materials & equipment, career pathways, and standards alignment

15 sections
Course Overview and Teacher Guide
Lesson Preparation Materials
Questions and Assignment - Course Overview
Modules 1 - 3 Video
Questions and Assignments - Modules 1 - 3
Quiz - Modules 1 - 3
Modules 4- 5 Video
Questions and Assignments - Modules 4 - 5
Quiz - Modules 4 - 5
Standards Alignment
Student Assessment Tools
Module Projects, Quizzes and Discussions
Student Self-Assessment
Assessment Rubric
Curricular Integration and Assessment

Module 1: Game Elements and Design Strategies

Learn how game designers think about and plan their games. Then take the 10 minute game design challenge.

3 sections
Lesson 1: What's in a Game?
Lesson 2: Strategy and Chance
Lesson 3: Design a Game in 10 Minutes

Module 2: Digital Games and Scratch

Learn about the actions and interactions in digital games and learn how to use Scratch to build some simple prototypes.

4 sections
Lesson 4: Digital Games
Lesson 5: Moving Around in Scratch Part 1
Lesson 6: Moving Around in Scratch Part 2
Lesson 7: Keeping Score

Module 3: Personalize Your Game

Learn how to create your own game assets and then learn about some challenging moves to add to your game.

3 sections
Lesson 8: Creating Sprites, Objects and Backdrops
Lesson 9: Sound and Music
Lesson 10: Learning From Remixing

Module 4: Designing and Playtesting

Learn about game themes, mechanics and design and playtesting before building your game in Scratch.

2 sections
Lesson 11: Game Themes, Types and Design
Lesson 12: Playtesting and Game Mechanics

Module 5: Building, Prototyping and Next Steps

Design and build your original game and learn how to run technical and playtesting sessions.

3 sections
Lesson 13: Design Mapping
Lesson 14: Computational Thinking - Build Your Game
Lessons 15 - 16: Building and Testing Your Game

Student Showcase

Now it's time to show off your projects!

2 sections
How to Lead a Student Showcase
Student Showcase

Completion

The following certificates are awarded when the course is completed:

LSSW Course Completion Certificate