Video Game Design Program Wins $1.5 Million Grant
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- Category: Ms H. News
- Published on Friday, 17 February 2012 16:08
University of Colorado iDreams Scalable Game Design Program
Launched in 2009, the University of Colorado iDreams Scalable Design Game Design Institute trains teachers on how to use curriculums based on video game and computer programming. The program exceeded researchers' expectations in its enrollment as well as accomplishments.
The program involves over 100 teachers and 8,000 students. Started in Colorado, the program has expanded to other states including Alaska, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming.
As a reward for its excellence, the university institute has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation.
The grant will be used to track how video game design aids in the computational thinking of students and STEM simulations. STEM simulations are used to model natural occurrences such as how forest fires spread as well as other science phenomena.
Graphic for the iDreams Scalable Game Design Program
According to David Webb, co-investigator of the School of Education, the new grant will also be used to build up more robust research instruments to be used for computer science education.