Game Jams Erasmus Project

Project Title

Game Jams

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Inclusion – equity; Gender equality / equal opportunities

Project Summary

According to the last research on ICT and Gender Equality of the ICC – International Chamber of Commerce (2018), women are currently less likely than men to use or own digital technologies and to study and work in digital and ICT sectors, with gaps larger among youth and those over 45 years old. ICT improves efficiency, enhances coordination and improves the quality of information gathered and shared for development planning. Technologies can support self-development, access to knowledge and information, social and health services, upskilling and access to the global labour market and to better careers. In order to promote women empowerment and equal opportunities, mentioned among the 17 Goals of UN Sustainable Development Agenda, new generations need to be well-informed about how the ICT ecosystem works in practice, the barriers to access it and how challenges can be overcome.
The project “Games Jam” will involve students from 4 different countries in 4 different transnational exchanges aimed at gaining awareness about gender inequalities in the ICT and STEM in general and improving technical skills related to game design. The 4 partner schools, Longsands Academy from the U.K., IES Blas de Prado from Spain, 1st General Lyceum of Aigio from Greece and Constantin Brancusi Technical College from Romania, will work together on the design of a videogame that will promote gender equality and the importance of digital skills for women and also raise awareness about women succeeding in ICT and STEM, in an attractive and dynamic way. A first online training and exchange will take place in order to prepare learners to face the first transnational project exchange in the UK. After an initial phase of research on the history of women contributing to the development of STEM and ICT in their own country, students will use eTwinning in order to analyze other best practices implemented by European schools on similar topics. In this way, the students will be given the opportunity to start approaching the theme of the project and to start working together in order to produce the materials necessary for the development of the transnational exchange.
After returning from the exchange carried out in the UK, training and preparation will be carried out in view of the activities hosted in Spain; that will be focused on stereotypes in different contexts, including games. After the second exchange, students will start to collaborate, in working groups and through eTwinning, in order to prepare their educational videogame. Dissemination and awareness campaign techniques will be discussed during the third exchange in Romania. Students will then, promote their innovative tools and increase awareness on gender topics by communicating with their peers and with the school staff. The last exchange in Greece will be focused on testing the videogame and debating on the project topics with the entire school community of the hosting partner. At the end of the project activities, the Video Game produced by students will be presented in a closing event, organized within each partner Institute, in which families, students of the school and school managers will be invited to participate, together with the other relevant stakeholders. Participants, through videos and photos, will share their experience and the teachers of the activities will illustrate the results obtained with the implementation of “Games Jam”. The videogame will be made available online and publicized on eTwinning in order to reach other European schools interested in “making a change” with small and important actions for a better and more inclusive society.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 107520 Eur

Project Coordinator

Astrea Longsands Academy & Country: UK

Project Partners

• 1o GENIKO LYKEIO AIGIOU
• IES BLAS DE PRADO
• Colegiul Tehnic Constantin Brancusi Petrila