The Institute for Research on Digital Literacies
The Institute for Research on Digital Literacies

AMD After School Game Production Club

2011-2016

AMD After School Game Production Club

To combat the lagging technical skill set and shrinking world of social and educational opportunity for low-income students, our research, in partnership with AMD, establishes a program for primary- and secondary-level students to acquire computer programming skills through game development. The program offers participants an opportunity to gain useful skills and knowledge, to mentor and be mentored, and to develop their overall confidence and technical skills. Over the course of several camps and workshops, our researchers create a unique environment for kids to develop computer games using Game Maker and to make wearable tech. For each event, critical thinking spaces are designed to encourage participants to challenge cultural norms on which games are “appropriate” for girls and boys to play and to talk about their gaming experiences while taking risks in their play and designs.