Pilot Courses

In this section it is possible to access to pilot courses taking the form of educational videogames. Each educational videogames was created by secondary school teachers of different disciplines involved in the project. These pilot courses try to exploit the potential of multimedia and videogame technologies for educational purposes.

Some of the pilot courses (educational videogames) have been developed by the teachers, using freeware game editors (for example Radiant) or freeware game design tools (for example Adventure Makers).

Other pilot courses have started from a commercial videogame that was changed with the internal editors and adapted for educational purposes.
Other pilot courses were developed using either freeware or commercial software.

For each of the pilot courses contained in this section, there is a related tutorial guiding step by step to its creation. The tutorials were also developed by the teachers author of the pilot courses.

In order to develop their work, all the schools coordinated by the project partners could follow the examples of pilot courses (and related templates and tutorials) created by the University of Fine Arts of Brera, during the first year of the project.

These methodological examples are also included in the list below.

Examples of Pilot courses produced by the University of Brera

Dark Room

The Dark Room is a point and click short "noir" adventure created to teach and learn the techniques of photography developing and printing.

It is addressed to secondary vocational schools where the "Photography" discipline is taught.
It was created with a freeware software.

Authors: submitted as an example by the University of Fine Arts of Brera (IT)

Return to Old Castle

Return to Old Castle proposes a virtual tour along the history of an ancient italian listed building. The audio makes a detailed description of the building while it is being visited.

It is addressed to secondary schools where the "Art" discipline is taught.

It was created a modification (Mod) of Return to Castle Wolfenstein commercial videogame

Authors: submitted as an example by the University of Fine Arts of Brera (IT)

Tarot

Tarot is a working Tarot cards deck. The interpretation of the cards refers to C.G.Jung theory of archetypes, and constituite a first approach to the philosophic view of the Swisse psychologist.

It is addressed to secondary schools where "Psychology and Philosophy" disciplines are taught.

Authors: submitted as an example by the University of Fine Arts of Brera (IT)

Pilot courses developed by the schools involved

Firefly

Firefly is an educational videogame about sustainable development and energy savings that takes place in a school. The players (students) should identify energy wasting throughout the school and address them using the equipment available to them in the game.

Authors: Belgian teachers coordinated by In.For.Ef

Galileo Trial

The Galileo Trial is a video game pilot course that takes place at the beginning of 1600 where Pope Urbano assigns to researcher Thomas Cabbanella to check if the theory of the prisoner Galileo is correct. The researcher will try to find proves about the Newton law.

The software used to create it are: the Aurora Engine in Neverwinter Nights I, in order to play the game it is therefore necessary to install the commercial videogame first.

Authors: Greek teachers coordinated by the University of Patras

Mysterious Computer

Mysterious Computer is a pilot course on the computer architecture and data processing. It should help pupils to learn the basics of computer architecture. The course offers some learning material with visual elements. Self tests and questions are also included into the course.

The software used to create it are: Course Lab; Irfan View.

Authors: Lithuanian teachers coordinated by the Pedagogical University of Vilnius

Nuke

Nuke Nuke is an educational videogame that can be used transversally as support of different subjects in the area of Natural Sciences. The final purpose of the game is to learn how the Nuclear Fission works in its main principles. The player/student will have to understand -by interacting with a virtual and fantastic environment- the basics of Nuclear Science. The final purpose is to teach the complex dynamics of the Nuclear system with the tension and thrill of the possible disaster.

Authors: Italian teachers coordinated by the University of Fine Arts of Brera (IT)

School of Athens

School of Athens is a pilot course on the history of mathematics. It is like a journey from Pope's Julius II to great mathematicians, through marvelous painter Raphael. There are different pathways to follow. Student may read or listen the main facts about mathematicians, look the short videos, do simple practical tests or solve puzzles.

The software used to create it are: Adventure Maker; Adobe Photoshop CS3; Adobe Flash CS3; InkScape; PanaVue Image Viewer; Question Tools Editor Suite; Easy Icon maker.

Authors: Lithuanian teachers coordinated by the Pedagogical University of Vilnius

Siena

Siena is a pilot course on the city of Siena in Italy. It should help pupils to learn about Siena city's history and art. The course is based on a multiple choice approach.

The software used to create it is: Adventure maker.

Authors: Teachers from Lithuania and Greece involved in the Learning Game transnational workshop

Simulator of Chernobyl

Chernobyl Simulator is an educational videogame that simulate the technical elements of the Chernobyl Radiator. The final purpose of the game is to avoid the disaster. The player/student have to mantain the balance between the different element that compose the functioning of the Radiator. At the basis of the game there is the programming of the variables connected to the graphyte barrel.

Authors: Italian teachers coordinated by the University of Fine Arts of Brera (IT)

The CounterStrike

CounterStrike is a game made using the commercial game CounterStrike. The game can be used simultaneously by several players (32 max per server). The main rule is to move through school without getting caught by other players. Players can move inside and outside of buildings (in classes). Whenever a player enters a classroom, the door closes and, in order to escape, the player must answer a series of educational issues.

Authors: Belgian students of the Institute of Providence Herve coordinated by their teachers and by In.For.Ef.

Trip to California

Trip to California is a pilot course that should help pupils to learn English. The course offers some on line games such as crossroads, multiple choice quizzes etc.

Authors: German teachers coordinated by the University of Koblenz Landau