Using computer games in a school context as part of teaching and learning is in its infancy. However there is evidence that the use of games in the right context can require the user to apply, and develop, such skills as data and resource manipulation, strategic planning and thinking skills. The games format can offer motivation and the specific cultural attraction of the genre. For some pupils videogames are the most important texts they are consuming and it is in this area of the ordinary and the contemporary where creativity and ideas abound.

BECTa – British Education Communications and Technology Agency has developed a useful information sheet that explores how computer games can support teaching and learning.
http://www.becta.org.uk/research/research.cfm?section=1&id=519

Report on the educational use of games
Teem – Shelford Studio, 46 Whittlesford Rd, Little Shelford, Cambridge CB2 5EW
http://www.teem.org.uk/publications

Recent research conducted by the Sector Skills Council and the DTi that show over 70,000 people are employed in digital creative roles in the UK, across nearly 3,000 different organisations. These roles encompass everything from website creation, interactive TV and multimedia through to games creation.

Blitz Games

Philip and Andrew Oliver, co-founders of Blitz Games, began writing games in their bedrooms as teenagers. They went on to found one of the UK’s most successful independent development companies and now, with GameOn, they’re hoping to encourage the next generation of games designers.

'If you want to get into games then you’ve probably been wondering where you can go for information. Maybe you want to know what programming tools you should learn, or how you put a good animation demo together. Maybe you’re interested in being a games journalist or helping to market the finished products.

Whatever area of the games industry interests you GameON can help'.

Click here to download 'Creative Careers in Video Games' prepared by Blitz Games for the 'Embeddding ICT in Art Conference at the Lowry on the 18th November 2004.

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