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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Thanks all for the wonderful contributions. Great to read about similar approaches across so many disciplines. And some really inspiring ideas shared, too. Much appreciated! Have a great rest of your evening :)

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I love the idea of that and think that would have great value for my level 5 and 6 students, as I grow more familiar with their profiles. I could perhaps hold back on this approach at level 4, and instead use that year to identify who would be a good fit for which role at the later levels?

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

We run some large, cross-discipline modules aimed at mimicking real-world game studio development. It's an invaluable experience, but yeah - you absolutely have my sympathy. I'd jump at the chance to know more about what these compellingly immersive experiences look like in your discipline!

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Absolutely true. Games design suffers the same limitations as every other discipline - deadlines for a product to ship being a key one. Yet, they are a truly creative discipline, and I'd hate for a games designer to ever lose that wide-eyed optimism of "but what if we just add this...." :)

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I love the idea of a gameified debate! I'd also be interested to know of any free online games you have used or have considered using!

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Absolutely agree. When teaching my students with game frameworks, they are tasked with documenting their progress each and every week via an indiviual blog. This blog might contain a post simply explaining how something they tried didn't work - but over time, we get the narrative of the process

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

That sounds like a great balance. Individual time to learn and develop their skills, but then also the opportunities to share and demonstrate their progress with/to others via a team setting would be incredibly valuable for my games students.

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

That's a great point. I tend to have students develop their projects over the course of many weeks, and try to ensure we introduce new gameplay ideas each week, to add new twists to the game - but I also love the idea of rapid prototyping of multiple game types (this is something my colleague uses).

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

That's a great idea. Whilst we implement formal Student Demonstrators (a paid, applied for position for students) at my institution, I do love the idea of something less formal, but where the more skilled students can be encouraged to mentor others within the class.

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Great to read this. I've found stretch goals are an instrumental part of framework usage, to give more able learners room to flex. I've also found it valuable to include as many examples from the teaching team of work they have completed using the techniques being taught ("cognitive apprenticeship")

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I love these - I've used a number of these approaches over the year, but I'd never seen them so nicely presented. Thank you for sharing!

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Absolutely, working within a framework is often essential in games design. Have you found ways of overcoming that indoctrination, perhaps in students' later levels?

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

I remember using Authorware back in the day! Frameworks in games design have some similarities. They're a bit like partly written stories, in which students fill in the gaps (only with their own games design ideas, worlds, gameplay etc).

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

It's a pleasure to be involved, thanks for having me!

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Hello! Hope you're having a great Wednesday evening! (I forgot which day of the week it was for a second!) :)

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David James @dwjames.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

Thank you! Yes, would be thrilled to be a guest :) please fire any details!

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Reposted by David James

Advance HE @advancehe.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

Congratulations to @dwjames.bsky.social from Staffordshire University on receiving a #NTFS2025. David’s award-winning, game-based teaching tools and student-first approach are redefining games design education. A true mentor and innovator in the field.

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