Digital literacies and 21st century skills: The students’ game design and development experience
Abstract: This study offers insight into the learning and teaching implications of an open-ended, project-based, learning environment that involves digital literacy development. In a study of digital game creation technology classes, with middle school student, interviews and 21st Century Skill survey offer evidence toward understanding emerging constructs of creative and innovative thinking; communication and collaboration; and critical thinking and problem solving as examined in the game design and programming environment. Findings suggest that creative and innovative thinking is a critical construct in game design and development learning that supports digital literacy development. Digital literacy, in relation to game design and programming is supported as a complex interaction of creative collaborative problem solving with a focus on constructionist learning for deep learning. Moreover, despite the difficulty in programming, students’ may find the authentic creative process satisfying with positive emotions.
Presider: Catherine McLoughlin, Australian Catholic University