Before diving into game-based learning and the culminating challenge our #GirlsWhoGame (GWG) club members along with their coaches, Grade 6 teacher Kamla Rambaran @McM_MsR, Grade 4 teacher Sebastian Basualto @Sebasualto, and myself discussed, shared & established club norms focussed on building trust, shared responsibility, their digital presence & values (take risks, be kind, actively listen).
#GirlsWhoGame members met with Katina Papulkas @KatPapulkas, Canadian Education Strategist at DELL, and our mentor Karen Beutler @kbeutler who introduced the girls to this year’s Culminating Challenge: to design and create an eatery of the future in Minecraft. #GirlsWhoGame members began by brainstorming:
What are the needs in our local / national / global community?
Who might we need to connect with to learn more?
Connecting with Indigenous knowledge keepers
Connecting with a secondary school class in Kenya
Connecting with a local food bank
I can't emphasize enough the admiration I have for all the #GirlsWhoGame members, coaches, mentors and sponsors; I would further like to highlight that our team members continued to connect, collaborate and build while in school moving from brick&mortar to remote learning spaces. Their respect for each other was strengthened by their understanding in being patient, adaptable and persevering during a global pandemic. To end this post, I can't think of a better way than with a student quote: Grade 6 #GirlsWhoGame member: “We built on our growing awareness of what girls can do in STEM fields. Girls who Game allowed us to build positive relationships in and out of the Minecraft world and confidence in knowing that we are change makers and can be leaders in STEM.”
To learn more about Girls Who Game check out:
https://www.dell.com/en-ca/work/shop/girls-who-game/cp/girls-who-game
#GirlsWhoGame (Grade 4&6) Local Toronto Eatery
https://flipgrid.com/s/qRsp1PMs9sCUKrBD
#GirlsWhoGame (Grade 4&6) Rural Kenya Community Eatery
https://flipgrid.com/s/A1Y1gEcsVXsEU4ux
#GirlsWhoGame (Grade 4&6) Indigenous Community Eatery
https://flipgrid.com/s/sTsTMt96Zsz9mpwR