Reid Kerr College
Showcase for Excellence : Developing skills for employability and citizenship
through the Higher National Certificate (HNC) Computer Games Graded Unit
Learners on the HNC Computer Games programme benefit from the inclusion of a
project to develop a video game for use by local young people in a community
setting. The project requires learners to design and develop a video game, based on
a brief provided by the local regeneration agency, which will be used on a Youth Bus
as part of a local strategy to reduce anti-social behaviour. As part of their graded
unit, learners work in teams of four to design and develop a video game based on
themes identified within the brief. They work to a deadline set by the regeneration
agency. The project requires learners to allocate tasks effectively and to review the
work of their colleagues systematically. The use of peer review is a motivating factor
for learners and contributes to improved attainment and wider achievement.
In session 2009-10, through peer review, the class selected two games which were
evaluated by users of the Youth Bus service and partner organisations, following a
presentation by each team. Street Skating 2010 was selected and has subsequently
been installed on the Youth Bus computers. Core skills were integrated within the
project task effectively, with learners simultaneously producing assessment evidence
for another unit in their programme. This approach has motivated learners and has
impacted positively on retention and attainment in this unit. The use of the brief, as
well as evaluation by external partners, has contributed to the effective development
of the employability skills required by the computing industry.