Girls Who Game (GWG) 2020-2021

 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

#GirlsWhoGame members were provided with opportunities to develop their Minecraft building skills, the Global Competencies focussed on transferable skills and understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The inquiry-based learning and the Design Thinking process guided members to better inform ideas and decisions. GWG members worked in teams to design their microworld and use coding while building a prototype as a solution for the culminating challenge. Members shared with the #GirlsWhoGame community via Flipgrid, as well as making connections with STEM career mentors. Grateful to Faye Ho @geekyfay, IT manager at the TDSB for sharing her journey as a #LifeLongLearner and that ‘there is never a straight path in learning’.

We were fortunate to have scheduled virtual guided workshops hosted by Maria @itsninastar and Jordena @azraellxx from Microsoft Stores across Canada; like, how to build pistons, chain reactions and movement in a kitchen. Also, how about using podzol block to grow mushrooms, soul sand block for nether wart plants, using bone meal to help things grow quickly, how to compost & so many more gardening tips to consider in their builds.

Our goal is to continue on our path and jump onboard the growing eSports Minecraft build challenge community like the one hosted this past weekend with schools in Toronto, Ontario and Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Proud to congratulate our McMurrich JPS #GirlsWhoGame members! Level 1 Eatery of the Future Culminating Challenge! There were 50 judges for 30 entries from across Canada & USA. So many of our members were online to watch the news be shared live during the #GirlsWhoGame celebrations! Our morning gathering was filled with pride, excitement and enthusiasm to continue learning to build and code in Minecraft!

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

A shout out to all sponsors Dell, Microsoft and Intel Technologies.