G L A M Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Innovations in Internationalisation at Home University of Kent – 5th April 2019 G L A M Gameful Learning @ Medway Project

GLAM Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Yang Yang, University of Greenwich Barbara Sheehy, University of Kent Silvia Colaiacomo, University of Kent Mary Andall-Stanberry, CCCU

and AURELIE HAECK Year 2 – Kent Business student

Gameful Learning at Medway Project What is it? First joint project between the three Universities at Medway / jointly financed Started from a conversation at the Medway Festival 2017 Run as a pilot during the academic year 2018/19

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Rational for the project We aimed to investigate constructions of critical thinking at Individual level: critical thinking can be visual/multimedia/multimodal. Local Context level: institutional and discipline based contexts Cultural level: is critical thinking culturally informed? Is it possible to develop an individual’s critical thinking skills/awareness by exploiting cultural diversity?

Aims of the project Gameful Learning at Medway Project To bring together students from the three universities and engage them in a scaffolded and regular dialogue on critical thinking (CT) and employability skills (ES) from an intercultural perspective. To guide and support students’ learning by developing an awareness of cultural constructs and values underpinning HE To recognise, celebrate and utilise the diverse skills and cultural backgrounds of our students through valuing their existing understanding of CT and ES To develop collaborative working relationship between the Universities at Medway To develop students as partners, especially as game co-designers To train students to be mentors for future student cohorts.

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project How? We met the students 7 times over two terms We centred each session on a reflective topic such as ‘problems and solutions’ which was unpacked through games, discussions and a more formal exploration of key terms. Students worked on tasks (games) and artefacts (visuals) and were filmed and interviewed Each meeting was facilitated by staff with the support of a more experienced students A Facebook page was set up to keep conversations going between meetings

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project What did we aim to find out? What kind of participation is desirable? What kind of interactions are desirable? What kind of structure will emerge? How can we create an inclusive learning environment where students can express their voice and input?

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Examples of games Build tri-dimensional conceptual representations Quizzes Role-play and dramatization Lego / providing instructions Solving puzzles Drawing / creative activities

… preliminary data analysis Gameful Learning @ Medway Project What we are finding out? … preliminary data analysis Attendance: engagement as a social construction Importance of disciplinary focus Keep it simple / create a safe space Examples from every day life as effective triggers Redesigning comfort zones (it’s about the activity rather than the company!)

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Students’ views… Glam really helped me to look at things from different perspectives I would certainly do it again, you can see how people change… those who come, session after session, they talk more, they challenge things more It pushes you to reflect You create a bond, it’s intimate… The best thing was working with you (staff) and see how a group of professionals work together. That was so formative for me. We don’t do that as students…. and this is critical before my year in industry

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Our views… what have we learnt? Importance of planning ahead Engagement of staff Right balance between theory and games Subcultures within cultures (e.g. gender interaction)

Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Contact us for further information Yang Yang, University of Greenwich Y.Yang@gre.ac.uk Barbara Sheehy, University of Kent B.A.Sheehy@kent.ac.uk Silvia Colaiacomo, University of Kent S.Colaiacomo@kent.ac.uk Mary Andall-Stanberry, CCCU mary.andall-stanberry@canterbury.ac.uk

GLAM THANKS https://www.gkunions.co.uk/ents/event/1858/   https://www.gkunions.co.uk/ents/event/1858/ https://www.gkunions.co.uk/ents/event/1882/