Games for Change, in partnership with the NYC Department of Education, is inviting New York City middle and high school teachers to apply for the Games for Change Student Challenge, a national game design program where students learn to create games about real-world social issues.
Interested teachers in NYC must apply by August 12. In September, 20 public school teachers will receive structured professional development and learn how to run a digital game design course in their school, starting in October, using the Mouse game design curriculum. Teachers and students will have access to online resources, in-person mentorship from professional game designers, game jams, and workshops.
Students in the hands-on course will develop key 21st-century skills such as systems thinking and inquiry-based learning as they design games about civic issues in their local communities. All students involved will be encouraged to enter their final games to the Student Challenge competition in April 2017. Previous competition entires were judged on creativity, gameplay, evidence of theme, and 21st-century skills.
G4C is also running the program in Dallas and Pittsburgh. Winners will receive prizes including paid internships, mentorships, classes, and even job shadowing opportunities with real game designers. An awards ceremony and exhibition of student games will be held in each participating city.
G4C has also partnered with Best Buy, Mouse, Museum of the Moving Image, Institute of Play, and the National Endowment for the Arts for the program.
Classcraft previously worked with Games for Change to report on games for social good during its 2016 annual festival in June.