GameSalad is an innovative company that provides a code-free, 2D game development platform, which is an incredible tool for learning and teaching game design and the theories of project based STEM Education.  Research shows, “70% of teachers agree that using digital games increases motivation and engagement with content/curriculum.”[1] Curriculum that is able to use engaging activities makes it easier for educators to address the various learning abilities of the students in their classes. It allows teachers to develop learning experiences that incorporate the use and development of practices associated with mobile media at a pace regulated by the student. Due to the distinct advantages of courses like these, GameSalad is being offered in classrooms across the country.

Mrs. Denise Jackson is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher at Wimberley High School in Wimberley, Texas. Years previously, Jackson held a senior role in a Fortune 500 company and when she found her way back to the classroom she wanted to make sure she taught a class that would engage students and prepare them for the competitive workforce. In 2012, Wimberley High began a Game Design program, which planned to give students a basic level of programming and game design concepts and then progress to game development toolkits.

It wasn’t until the program introduced students to GameSalad that they began to comprehend the real potential of programming. Jackson stated, “All students play games but few realized the effort behind creating them. We went from a full year of Javascript and small classes to tremendously increasing the enrollment and allowing students to create as they learn. GameSalad opened their eyes to what they could accomplish.” [2]

The Genesis of GameSalad Curriculum

Since GameSalad’s introduction, Jackson has restructured the program. Student’s in her class are now developing mobile applications and games as they learn. The games they are assigned to build are education based with a target audience of elementary level students in their school district. Not only are they engaging in STEM oriented activities, but these students are also actively participating in teaching younger students Common Core Standards through their projects.

Programs like Wimberley High’s Game Design are just a start to the possibilities of incorporating a curriculum that focuses on mobile project design. GameSalad provides educators with a comprehensive suite of tools and resources that make teaching game development, programming and interactive design simple and entertaining. Developing games challenges students to collaborate and creatively design solutions to complex problems. They are able to learn how to think like a programmer without stumbling over coding systems. Building confidence in students and providing them with new skill sets allows them to advance in their education and meet their career goals.

GameSalad Training for Educators

Studica will be hosting a live GameSalad training session for educators via webinar on August 27th from 12 noon- 4pm EST. The game design training for GameSalad Creator enables you to build and teach mobile video games and apps design using GameSalad Creator, the only drag-and-drop, “no coding required” video game design platform. In this 4-hour webinar, you will learn how to create your own side-scrolling video game using GameSalad Creator and be exposed to core elements of the GameSalad mobile game design curriculum. The webinar will cover installing and using GameSalad Creator, core game design and logic, art and sound, player controls, interactive scenes, user interface, menu design and presentation polish. In addition, this webinar will provide examples of how GameSalad Creator is used every day in STEM Education. This package includes an exam credit to sit for the forthcoming GCAD+i (GameSalad Certified Associate Developer + instructor) certification exam. This exam will launch in Q2 2014 and the credit will be good for one year from the date of the launch of the examination platform.