Reflections from Games Based Learning 2010 (#GBL10) – 3 of 10 The Consolarium

As I have already mentioned Learning and Teaching Scotland were supporting this years Games Based Learning Conference in London by providing speakers from our Consolarium project. The Consolarium is the Scottish Centre for games based Learning and Innovation in Education.

Derek Robertson did one of the opening keynotes on the Monday morning where he talked about the journey that he has been on in bring games based learning to Scottish schools. As always Derek's presentation was excellently delivered and made fabulous use of videos of children from around Scotland talking passionately about how they have used games in schools.

View Derek’s keynote here:


Joining Derek and I in London from the Consoalrium were two of our development officers Brain McLaren and Brain Clark (we tend to only let people called Brian work on the Consolarium project as it keeps things simple!).

Both Brain and Brian spoke in the second Learning with Games session that I opened and chaired on the Tuesday morning.

Brian spoke about his life as a Consolarium development officer and despite a few technical difficulties with video embeds he blew the audience away as soon as he showed the Sony EyePet and talked about his nursery – primary transition project.

Brian Clark followed with a great talk on the Consolarium plans for games design in Scottish schools. I’ll follow this up as a separate post next week. But for now have a look at Brians presentation below:

Comments

[Jaye Richards]

Interesting though this may be Ollie, I wonder how much impact on education in Scotland this little sojurn in London by four employees/secondees of LTS has actually had. At a time when every penny has to be made to count in schools, and indeed, when some cannot even afford jotters for the coming term, how you justify and impact assess this trip would be very enlightening...I wonder if you'd care to comment ? because I'm sure many folk would be curious as to how the presence of a team of four people at a small conference in London is going to make what we do here better ?

Do you think this kind of trip is useful and appropriate in such challenging financial times ?

Jaye

[Ollie Bray]

Did you watch the video's to find them 'interesting' Jaye - they havn't embeded well?

OB

[Jaye Richards]

I'm sure the presentations and seminars were first class, for the folk who attended. I have no doubt of that. I think what concerns me is why it was necessary to have a presence of four people at a conference in London in such straightened financial times. The fiscal probity of this,I think, would be questioned by many. How much did all of this actually cost Scottish taxpayers Ollie, and what was the impact, pound for pound, in scottish classrooms ? Thats what I'm interested in. Unless GBL10 covered the LTS costs ?

[Ollie Bray]

LOL - Don't worry Jsye I know what your question is! and I'm not avoiding it - I'll probably even reply (but not on a Friday night!). I was just asking if you had watched the videos? OB

[Jaye Richards]

I'm rather suprised you think it's a matter which merits a LOL !and I'm also glad you might even answer my question, thankyou.
That will be one less FOI request on my list then...

As to the video's, no, it being friday night,and me just catching up after some down time, I haven't got round to watching them yet....but I might. But thats an entirely different matter from the 'question' I'm getting at, isn't it...

[Ollie Bray]

Of course it is! - I was laughing at the fact that your responce seemed to suggest that I didn't undersatnd your original question. In any case, I laugh at most things - but you know that, so I wouldn't be to suprised. Thank you for answering my question and have a good night / weekend. OB

[jaye richards]

And you too - and I look forward to your answer as well..