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Methodology
The project will be completed in a series if logical steps that build on each other, comprising:
- Research in to game-based learning
- Develop the Research Game
- Teacher Material Development
- Mini-pilots
- Large scale pilot (multiple schools) and competition
- Replication documentation
- Workshops & teacher training
In this project there will be two sets of piloting that will enable sufficient testing to allow schools fully autonomous use of the resources produced after the end of funding.
Four additional work packages will be completed to ensure the quality of the project and to disseminate and exploit the project in to the future.
- Management
- Quality Assurance
- Dissemination
- Exploitation and sustainability
1. Research in to game-based learning
A research will be undertaken to give background and additional information on the use of game-based learning in education with a focus on games for science or ecology. This will include academic literature, and best practices. Particular attention will be given to locating past and present EU projects for science and ecology.
The repository will be published on the website.
2. Develop the Research Game
This will include the development of a complete set of requirements and the design documents for the:
- game
- The technology used for the game and community space
- Support documents to aid play
They will include a complete analysis of every aspect of the game and competition with complete descriptions of the process. Based on these requirements a technology requirements document will be prepared.
3. Teacher Material Development
This WP will develop a set of documents for teachers to enable them to understand from their viewpoint how they fit in to the playing of the game in a supportive and facilitator role.
4. Mini-pilots
The project is very innovative and to ensure the best possible quality and effectiveness of the project it is intended to carry out 3 sets of small-scale piloting (in 6 schools) to test the deliverables before the large-scale pilot competition across Europe.
In this initial piloting 6 schools will play the game and produce their results, but will only be evaluated internally by the project team. A prize will be awarded to ensure that these students have the same incentive as the later piloting students.
5. Large scale pilot (multiple schools) and competition
The large scale pilot will include at least 30 schools and 500 students across a minimum of 6 countries in Europe. Schools will work collaboratively with, at least, one other school not in their own country.
On the platform they will use the communication space to prepare their collaborative work on the project. A simple generic example could be, students may want to survey ecological niches or damage in their local area and then compare with their collaborators across Europe.
6. Replication documentation
The results and knowledge gained during the project course will be distilled in to a number of documents and a training course that will be focused on permitting replication of the project.
The repository will include:
- Methodology guide
- Case studies
- Use case scenarios
- Preparation of teacher training courses
7. Workshops & teacher training
The Workshops for teachers will act as significant introductory and replication tools for the project. The Workshops will transfer the innovation that has been tested and perfected during the project.
The Workshops will take place in UK, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Turkey and will involve teachers of secondary schools who may teach different subjects or are cross-curricular but will primarily be science based.
The outcomes of the project will include the opportunity to see how innovative practices can be replicated across disciplines. For students the outcomes will include an immersion in research as leading actors, collaborating as in a real scientific group and collaborating with students of other countries.