Level Up will pilot a youth-led, innovative approach to digital learning by designing and building an arcade machine from scratch, aiming to make digital learning engaging, accessible, and inclusive by embedding it in a creative, playful, and collaborative project. The aim is to engage a wide variety of young people, through the novelty and fun of the project, and to teach a wide variety of creative digital skills while building confidence and digital literacy. Participants will first learn about programming, by helping to write the code for the game with the help of a game developer. They will then take photos of themselves, using a green screen, before editing and transforming the photographs into playable characters. A sound booth and recording equipment will then be used to create the sound effects for the game before the game developer helps to pull everything together into a finished product.
Participants will learn the cut the panels of the arcade cabinet, using a laser cutter, and assemble the machine and decorate it. Finally, the machine will be unveiled to the public and participants will present on what they learned. Each participant will receive a copy of the game to take home and every step of the project will be documented so that an accredited course can be created for future young people to continue to benefit from.
Team
Tony Dellaquaglia – Office & Finance Manager, YMCA Tayside
Matthew Malloch – Y Innovate Lead, YMCA Tayside
Vicky Goodwin – Youth Worker, YMCA Tayside
Jonathan Dent – Game Developer