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

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

3. and AURELIE HAECK
Year 2 – Kent Business student

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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.

7. 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

8. Gameful Learning @ Medway Project

9. 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?

11. 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

13. … preliminary data analysis
Gameful 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!)

14. 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

15. 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)

16. Gameful Learning @ Medway Project Contact us for further information
Yang Yang, University of Greenwich Barbara Sheehy, University of Kent Silvia Colaiacomo, University of Kent Mary Andall-Stanberry, CCCU

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