Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 13
Game Design with Portfolios and Creative
Skills
Daniela Reimann and Simone Bekk
13.1
Introduction
The project combines art education approaches and portfolio work to develop artis-
tic processes with digital media technology. A new concept to support digital media
literacy of young people is developed, tested and evaluated. It brings together art
and technology education accompanied by a specifi c mentoring concept including
portfolios. The project realizes an education-through-art approach to technology in
fi ve thematic media modules such as robotics, interactive light installation, smart
textile, sound as well as games. The latter will be described in the context of the
GamesLab ON/OFF, realized at ZKM with student mentors and young people. The
GamesLab ON/OFF approach encourages the participants to develop, design and
perform their own game concept using the Web, a variety of media, technologies
and the physical learning space of the ZKM media museum.
Digital technologies determine today's everyday life. They are used by the
younger generation as a matter of course in their daily life. Pupils love to play
games, especially if they are linked to computers and digital media. Furthermore,
they like the idea of developing a game by themselves, according to their own imag-
ination as we came up with in earlier projects developing mixed reality games
(Reimann and Blohm
2007
). However, in the research project MediaArt@Edu
(Acronym), we intend to address a special mix of on- and offl ine game scenarios to
introduce game design in a wider sense than screen based, including performative
activities and expressions in physical space and the integration of the urban environ-
ment. The media education approach integrates different tools (such as Makey
Makey, Dead drop as well as iPads and a QR code generator) to support complex
design processes of shaping technology as a space for aesthetic experiences. The
