The symposium was based on the "Five demands to make Germany the best games location for science, research and teaching" published by the game association for Gamescom 2023. Supported by the game association, financed and hosted by Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and co-organized by Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences, the event offered a diverse and extensive programme.
Illuminating future challenges and discussing common guidelines
In his keynote speech, Prof. Stephan Jacob emphasized the importance of this first overarching meeting of German universities in the academic sector of games degree programmes. Prof. Jens Junge then set the didactic tone for the day in his keynote speech, which examined the current landscape of games teaching and addressed future challenges. This was followed by world cafés in which best practices and innovative didactic methods were discussed and further developed. A further keynote speech by Prof. Jens Müller was followed in the afternoon by a discussion on different teaching concepts, content and methodology, which revealed numerous similarities but also differences, particularly with regard to terminology and study objectives. Common guidelines and the question of possible doctorates in the games sector were also critically discussed - these are currently only possible in related subjects such as computer science.
Central topic: the foundation of an academic association in the games sector
The subsequent discussion on the establishment of a separate academic association to represent the interests of lecturers and institutions in the field of games (education) training and research was therefore central. The participants agreed that such an organization is necessary in the medium term in order to strengthen cooperation, enforce goals, facilitate doctorates, manage research funds, develop common standards and increase the visibility of games teaching in academic and public perception. Experts and professors emphasized the importance of a coordinated effort to achieve the goals set.
The conference ended with a networking event, which was actively used to make new contacts and deepen existing networks. The positive response and the great commitment of the participants show that the first German Conference for Games Didactics was able to make an important contribution to the further development of games teaching and that further meetings are necessary.
Continuation of the event to promote games (education) training
The event is to be repeated and expanded in the coming year in order to continuously promote and further develop games education in Germany. There are also plans to present the results of the conference at the gamescom congress.
Contact
Prof. Michael Hebel
Visit the conference website
https://ag.mediencampus.h-da.de/fachtagung/
