Create Games for future education

This gamejam is an on-site event to co-create gamejams, that help students cope with mathematics. We strongly believe that games can make an impact in education and organise this event to empower you!

It is a challenge to find the balance between a game that is fun and a game that has a learning impact. We celebrate this challenge and make this the main topic of our gamejam - finding the balance.

Backstory: We run a European university alliance project "How do we teach math in Europe" with Graz University of Technology to improve onboarding on universities with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies. Our goal is to create a MOOC (massive open online course) that makes mathematics more interactive, fun and story-driven.

Games (maybe some of those created at this gamejam) might become a part in this MOOC.

Create community - how we organize Gamejams

Creating an inclusive and productive learning environment is our number one goal. We want to break barriers in collaboration and accelerate your creativity.
We do this by starting with an introduction round, the possibility to show your own projects (Indie hour) and by offering mentoring sessions.

We hope to attract game jammers who are willing and open to share their expertise as well to contribute to the visioned inclusive learning environment. We believe in the concept of "ako" (Māori) which recognises the relationship between learning and teaching and does not distinguish between the two. This relates to the highest level of Bloom's taxonomy of learning which is the ability to share knowledge.

You have never created a game before? We know how hard it is to start - I have created my very first game 30 months ago. So no worries, we will guide you. Boris is our dedicated coach, a senior developer who really knows how to mentor juniors.

Contributing to gamedev community is goal number two. Therefore you also can come with your own project idea and just enjoy the motivational atmosphere of a gamejam including the free food. You can choose a math topic but you don't have to.

When (Schedule)

• Friday, 9th of May
  • 🚩 Start at 18:00
  • 👋 Introduction round
  • 🎮 Check the old games (gametesting + feedback)
  • 🧠 New ideas Brainstorming
  • 🌯 Dinner (Snacks) + Team and project forming
  • 🛌 End approx 21:00
• Saturday, 10th of May
  • ☕ Breakfast at 8:00
  • 🚩 Start at 9:00
  • 🍕 Lunch approx 13:00
  • 🦸‍♂️ Indie hour 16:00
  • 🍝 End of day + dinner approx 21:00
• Sunday, 11th of May
  • ☕ Breakfast at 8:00
  • 🚩 Start at 9:00
  • 🌮 Lunch approx 13:00
  • 🏆 Final presentation approx 17:00
  • 🏁 End approx 18:00

Where (Location)

HS i9 (TU Graz)
Inffeldgasse 13
8010 Graz

Jam Rules

1. (On-site) Participation The jam is open to everyone interested in game development and/or art and/or math education. We aim to create an inclusive open community event and hope for your active support to create a nice atmosphere. Online participation is not really possible but you can also work on some parts at home (e.g. if you have cool equipment for composition or so at home). Please be there on Friday at the brainstorming and team building session ;)
2. Game Topics We would like to create games, that deal with or help to comprehend one of the following math topics:
   1. Fractions
   2. Linear and quadratic equations
   3. Functions
   4. Vectors
   But you are also free to work on something different. If you have already a topic / or a technology in mind, on which you would like to focus during the gamejam, please contact us beforehand.
3. Engines: We work most of the time with Unity, but you can work in the game engine of your choice. In the end the game should be browser and mobile friendly.
4. Technical equipment: You will be provided with Wifi access and power supply. We have moveable chairs and tables in a big lecture hall. We do not offer monitors or keyboards / mouse - please bring your own devices. If you are do not have gamejam equipment (or are unsure what to bring) just contact us, we will advice you or even lend you some of our equipment.
5. Teams We are not that strict with teams, on the first day we have a team building session taking into account your preferences, the present game ideas and your expertise level. There should be a product owner per project. Artists can collaborate with more teams. If you would like to work in certain constellation just tell us ;)
6. Originality We like to jam, which means creation of new things or reinterpretation of old ones. You can take material from an old game, given they are open, MIT or CC-BY licensed (e.g. the games we created during one of the past OER gamejams) or you can create a new game from scratch - it's up to you.
7. Things to avoid No offensive or NSFW content (e.g., sexual or gore; when in doubt consider that your game could be used in schools - you can always ask us if you are not sure, what's appropriate). You can also use AI generated content (we give you advice what to consider to do no IP or copyright violation)
8. Submission Games shall be submitted through itch.io (Terms of Service). Answer the submission question and set your game up for in-browser play.
9. Ownership The games shall be licensed as open educational resources (MIT licensed software and / or CC-BY in to allow their reusability and jamability. If you would like to keep the rights of your creation or want to work on something closed - please tell us in advance.
   We claim no rights or ownership of your game.
10. Coverage If you participate in the game jam, you confirm that we may use and highlight your game in promotional activities, such as media coverage of the event. Participation in the event is no guarantee that your game will be featured in such a way. During the event, pictures and videos will be taken. During sign-up for the event, we will ask for your consent to take and use these. This consent is optional and not a requirement to participate in the event.
11. Be decent! Be kind, respectful and friendly. If you notice problematic behaviour during the event, please talk to the organisers so that we can ensure a safe and productive environment for everyone.

Food and accommodation

You are our guests and we try to make you feel as comfortable as possible. Food is for free (thanks to the support of the local student unions) - snacks and coffee/soft drinks shall be provided throughout the jam. Breakfast buffet will be available on Saturday and Sunday morning and lunch / dinner organised according to your diet preferences.

Saturday evening we plan a joint dinner 🎉

You are based outside of Graz and have no friends / family there to stay over the weekend? No problem, we offer a limited number of accommodation spaces in a central hostel in Graz - just fill out the registration below and claim the accommodation option.

Mentors

• Boris Asenov (Fantastyc Games, Senior developer)
• Gerhard Dorn (edventure Studios, CTO
• Michael Fuchs (edventure Studios, Didactic expert)

The mentors are happy to assist you (if needed) and guide you to realize a game project within 48 hours. Boris is an expert in "Getting things done" providing a keynote on how to "Keep things simple".

Registration

👉 Please register with the following registration form till 8th of May (the sooner the better)

We ask you things like Discord and github name to accelerate setting up digital co-working space.

We will also announce practical tools (which Unity version to use, hints for art programs, etc...) the days before the event so you can set up your computing machines.