The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
On a rainy Saturday, Raenyia Anderson dreamed of making a computerized cat master the laws of physics while Sara Matthews plotted mind-bending math problems.
The girls, both 11, came to Norfolk State University to get hands-on training in video game design theory for the national STEM Video Game Challenge. About 300 turned out at the training and TechFest, a community event promoting digital literacy.
Katya Hott, who helped implement the video game challenge through her company, E-Line Media, said the competition was inspired by President Barack Obama's push for a renewed focus on STEM - an acronym for science, technology, engineering, and math - education.
Hott said building video games is an approachable way for students to be part of STEM education. Participants go through a scientific process of hypothesizing, building and testing their product, she said.
Entries into the competition can be about any topic, Hott said, but students are encouraged to develop games that highlight one of the STEM topics, like physics or math.
Hott said the training ranged from simple drag-and-drop computer programs for the middle school students to advanced programming for older competitors.
In the classrooms, Norfolk State University professors and student volunteers discussed video game variables with middle school and high school students, as well as college-age participants and educators. In one room, middle-school students quickly caught on, creating ghosts that swooped down on houses and cats dressed in top hats.
Anderson said the training gave her a new appreciation for how her favorite video games like "Mario" come together.
"I feel like it would be fun to have that as a job, to make games for kids" Matthews said.
Hott said she hopes students will design games for students younger than they are. There's a whole section of the competition designed for math games targeted at kids ages 4 through 8, she said.
Both girls said they're willing to put in as much time as it takes to build a winning game. They're doing it for fun, they said, but a prize wouldn't hurt.
"I gotta win that laptop," a smiling Matthews said.
Sarah Hutchins, 757-222-5210, sarah.hutchins@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
How to get involved?
How do we get on the email list for the spring event or any other events like this?? I heard nothing about this via my son's high school or ATC, which suprises me since Landstown is the VB Tech Academy!
Great event!
The STEM Game Development Training was such an inspiring event. Imagine so many kids coming out on a rainy Saturday to develop skills that could set them on a path toward a successful career! And no sports figures or rappers were needed.
It is unfortunate that the reporter did not fully explain the role of the local partners. This training was made possible through a grant that WHRO sought from CPB. WHRO, owned by the local K-12 schools, provides a huge variety of services for our students and teachers. And those services are now at risk as the Governor proposes to elminate all of our K-12 education funding. WHRO's state funding not for TV and Radio, it's supports the children of Hampton Roads.
Congrats to all
Congrats to all participants! And kudos to NSU College of Science Engineering & Technology, WHRO, One Economy Corporation, Norfolk Recreation Parks & Open Space, Norfolk Public Library, The Community Builders, The Y, Norfolk Public Schools, Life Enrichment Center, Teens With A Purpose, Historic Broad Creek Civic League, Digital Inclusion Advisory Board Members, the video game instructors, and all the excellent vendors on a great event. Get ready for another this spring!