14 DAY TRIAL // It was recently decided that game design and development will be taught to pupils in Scotland, which has generated quite a few reactions: from laughing to persons being completely against such a "blasphemy". However, most of the people considered this initiative to be a good one and that's what matters most, after all. Now, the "It's OK" faction got a big supporter, since the UK games trade body ELSPA has welcomed Scotland's decision to encourage a greater understanding and harnessing of the digital age.
This program, called Curriculum for Excellence, represents the Scottish Government's new approach to learning and part of it is represented by teaching pupils how to design and develop their own video games, as well as using software to create animations and feature films. This move is expected to create programmers for the future and ensure continuity in Scotland's success in the gaming industry - which employs more than 500 people and generates ?20million ($40 million) annually.
Paul Jackson, ELSPA Director General, said, "The initiative in Scotland is clearly a step in the right direction and the Scottish government is setting a good example. We hope similar schemes will be considered for the rest of the country. Programming and developing games is one of the areas in which we have traditionally done well in the UK - but ensuring we stay among the top countries for development in the years ahead is no easy task. Introducing the mechanics of making and designing games in schools is one way to ensure we stand a chance of staying ahead of the curve".
There are already children across Scotland experiencing computer design and animation in class but this is the first time guidelines on what skills children should be equipped with have been presented. The Curriculum for Excellence will be fully implemented for the school year 2009-2010 and it aims to provide seamless education for kids aged 3 to 18.