Taking part in the GamesCon competition offers enormous benefits for young people in Aberdeenshire, transforming a complex issue like Global Goal 13: Climate Action into an engaging, hands-on project. By creating a computer game or animation, students don’t just learn about climate change; they actively interpret it, develop a message, and build something tangible. This process is a powerful way to develop crucial digital literacy and coding skills, but its greatest strength lies in fostering a suite of essential Meta Skills.
Developing Future-Proof Meta Skills
Meta Skills are the timeless, human skills that are crucial for success in any future career path—skills like creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The GamesCon competition is a fantastic incubator for these abilities.
- Creativity and Innovation: Students must think creatively to transform the abstract concepts of climate action into an interactive game or compelling animation. They’ll brainstorm unique gameplay mechanics, design original characters, and build worlds that tell a story, pushing them to innovate and express complex ideas in a new medium.
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: The journey from an idea to a finished product is filled with challenges. Students will constantly face problems, from debugging code and fixing animation glitches to figuring out how to balance gameplay with an educational message. This process forces them to analyse problems, experiment with solutions, and think logically and systematically to overcome hurdles.
- Collaboration and Communication: Most projects will involve teamwork, requiring students to communicate their vision, negotiate ideas, and divide tasks effectively. They learn to give and receive constructive feedback and present their final creation to others, honing their ability to work as part of a team towards a common goal.
- Adaptability and Resilience: Game development rarely goes exactly to plan. A design idea might not work, or a technical issue might derail progress. This experience teaches students to be adaptable, to pivot when necessary, and to persevere through setbacks—building the resilience needed to succeed in a constantly changing world.
Beyond these core Meta Skills, the competition deepens students’ understanding of climate science and empowers them to feel like active participants in the solution, rather than passive observers. It provides a meaningful context for their learning, making abstract curriculum goals relevant and exciting, and potentially sparking a lifelong passion for technology, storytelling, or environmental advocacy.
