Tales of Adventure Author:Learning Through Making Games

Judy Robertson, Tessa Collins, Andrew Kelly

Outline

• Judy – Introduction to the project• Tessa – a teacher’s point of view• Andrew – a pupil’s point of view• Judy – A note about our research

About Adventure Author

• Based at Heriot-Watt University• Funded by EPSRC until Dec 08• Aims to study the creative process learners go

through when making their own computer games

• Have worked with schools in Edinburgh and Dundee to design and refine game making software

• Have also holiday workshops since 2003

Adventure Author and ACE

• We have designed AA to fit in with A Curriculum for Excellence:– Successful learners (see Computers in Education paper

at www.adventureauthor.org/publications.html)– Technology curriculum now includes making games

(see www.adventureauthor.org/2008/04/scottish-curric.html)

– Literacy and English guidelines (see www.adventureauthor.org/2008/03/nwn-as-a-

curric.html#more)

More about Adventure Author

• The software is a plug-in for a commercial game making package called Neverwinter Nights 2.

• We have taken out the trickier aspects of the software and added educational aspects:

• The plug-ins are free at www.adventureauthor.org

Neverwinter Nights 2

You can buy it on Amazon for ~£8

Game making toolset

Comes free with Neverwinter Nights 2 game

Fridge Magnets: creative ideas

Free standalone version at www.adventureauthor.org/fridge-magnets.html

Conversation Writer

Comments Cards: peer review

Free standalone version at www.adventureauthor.org/ comment-cards.html

Experiences at Campie Primary School

Tessa Collins

My Experiences of Adventure Author

Andrew Kelly

Before I started

• What did I know about game development?• What did I know about NeverWinterNights

and Adventure Author?• Was I looking forward to it?

During the project

• What did I enjoy?• What did I learn?• How did I make my game tie in with my story?• Did I encounter any difficulties making the

game?

After the project

• What did I do with my game?• Did I continue to work on my game?• What was my feedback from a wider

audience?• What was my favourite part of the project?

Notes on research

We’re analysing date to find out:• How the pupils told their stories visually• Did the pupils successfully tell stories in their

games?• Were the fridge magnets helpful in supporting

creative ideas?• Were the Comments Cards useful for peer

review?• Read our blog to find out!

Questions?

**We’re looking for partners for a new funding application! **

www.adventureauthor.orgadventure.author@googlemail.com