
NovaLearn - Game Designers
STEAM Curriculum
10 Minute Read
Role
Curriculum Designer Curriculum Developer Graphic Designer
Timeline
Mar, May 2025
Outcomes
Curriculum Guide Curriculum Slide Deck Student Activity Book
Team
This AI & Tech course stands out from other coding courses by combining block coding on Scratch with design thinking and entrepreneurial skills. In this dynamic and engaging curriculum, students are guided through the design thinking process, emphasizing understanding and iterative problem-solving. They also explore the art of game design, learning about the key elements of video game creation: technology, story, mechanics, and aesthetics. These elements are thoughtfully considered and integrated into their projects. Additionally, students gain insight into the field and careers of video game development and testing, including how to troubleshoot and debug their games, as well as how video games are marketed. Students are led through the course by Helios, a long-term resident of Nova Valley, and his alien friend Zyra. Together, they guide students through the process of designing and building their game for "The Great Galactic Game Convention." Students then refine their games and prepare to pitch them to "Astral Arcade Games." Designed using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, ISTE Standards for Students, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this course encourages students to think critically about how design thinking, computational thinking, and problem-solving extend beyond creating video games and apply to real-life challenges.

NovaLearn - Game Designers
STEAM Curriculum
10 Minute Read
Role
Curriculum Designer Curriculum Developer Graphic Designer
Timeline
Mar, May 2025
Outcomes
Curriculum Guide Curriculum Slide Deck Student Activity Book
Team
This AI & Tech course stands out from other coding courses by combining block coding on Scratch with design thinking and entrepreneurial skills. In this dynamic and engaging curriculum, students are guided through the design thinking process, emphasizing understanding and iterative problem-solving. They also explore the art of game design, learning about the key elements of video game creation: technology, story, mechanics, and aesthetics. These elements are thoughtfully considered and integrated into their projects. Additionally, students gain insight into the field and careers of video game development and testing, including how to troubleshoot and debug their games, as well as how video games are marketed. Students are led through the course by Helios, a long-term resident of Nova Valley, and his alien friend Zyra. Together, they guide students through the process of designing and building their game for "The Great Galactic Game Convention." Students then refine their games and prepare to pitch them to "Astral Arcade Games." Designed using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, ISTE Standards for Students, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this course encourages students to think critically about how design thinking, computational thinking, and problem-solving extend beyond creating video games and apply to real-life challenges.

NovaLearn - Game Designers
STEAM Curriculum
10 Minute Read
Role
Curriculum Designer Curriculum Developer Graphic Designer
Timeline
Mar, May 2025
Outcomes
Curriculum Guide Curriculum Slide Deck Student Activity Book
Team
This AI & Tech course stands out from other coding courses by combining block coding on Scratch with design thinking and entrepreneurial skills. In this dynamic and engaging curriculum, students are guided through the design thinking process, emphasizing understanding and iterative problem-solving. They also explore the art of game design, learning about the key elements of video game creation: technology, story, mechanics, and aesthetics. These elements are thoughtfully considered and integrated into their projects. Additionally, students gain insight into the field and careers of video game development and testing, including how to troubleshoot and debug their games, as well as how video games are marketed. Students are led through the course by Helios, a long-term resident of Nova Valley, and his alien friend Zyra. Together, they guide students through the process of designing and building their game for "The Great Galactic Game Convention." Students then refine their games and prepare to pitch them to "Astral Arcade Games." Designed using the Understanding by Design (UbD) framework, ISTE Standards for Students, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this course encourages students to think critically about how design thinking, computational thinking, and problem-solving extend beyond creating video games and apply to real-life challenges.


Each level (lesson) begins with an icebreaker to engage and prepare students before they receive their level's quests (lesson objectives). Students then meet Helios, and Zyra, who take students through various, discussions, activities, and videos that explore that lesson's topic chosen as part of the course's big ideas, essential questions, enduring understandings, and key concepts.. Students then apply their learning by planning, designing, or building their Video Game. The lesson ends by encouraging students to reflect on their learning by reinforcing key concept.
Each level (lesson) begins with an icebreaker to engage and prepare students before they receive their level's quests (lesson objectives). Students then meet Helios, and Zyra, who take students through various, discussions, activities, and videos that explore that lesson's topic chosen as part of the course's big ideas, essential questions, enduring understandings, and key concepts.. Students then apply their learning by planning, designing, or building their Video Game. The lesson ends by encouraging students to reflect on their learning by reinforcing key concept.
Each level (lesson) begins with an icebreaker to engage and prepare students before they receive their level's quests (lesson objectives). Students then meet Helios, and Zyra, who take students through various, discussions, activities, and videos that explore that lesson's topic chosen as part of the course's big ideas, essential questions, enduring understandings, and key concepts.. Students then apply their learning by planning, designing, or building their Video Game. The lesson ends by encouraging students to reflect on their learning by reinforcing key concept.













The course is thoughtfully designed to support both students and instructors. In the Curriculum Guide and instructor-facing slides of the Lesson Deck, instructors are given instructional information like required materials, step-by-step lesson outlines, and vocabulary list, as well as directional information like Student Outcomes, the Understanding by Design Framework components (the Big Idea(s), Essential Question(s), Enduring Understanding(s), and Key Concept(s)), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.
The course is thoughtfully designed to support both students and instructors. In the Curriculum Guide and instructor-facing slides of the Lesson Deck, instructors are given instructional information like required materials, step-by-step lesson outlines, and vocabulary list, as well as directional information like Student Outcomes, the Understanding by Design Framework components (the Big Idea(s), Essential Question(s), Enduring Understanding(s), and Key Concept(s)), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.
The course is thoughtfully designed to support both students and instructors. In the Curriculum Guide and instructor-facing slides of the Lesson Deck, instructors are given instructional information like required materials, step-by-step lesson outlines, and vocabulary list, as well as directional information like Student Outcomes, the Understanding by Design Framework components (the Big Idea(s), Essential Question(s), Enduring Understanding(s), and Key Concept(s)), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards for Students.








©2024 Tamara Sher. All Rights Reserved.
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©2024 Tamara Sher. All Rights Reserved.
Ready to work together?
Let’s do this!
click email to copy
©2024 Tamara Sher. All Rights Reserved.
Ready to work together?
Let’s do this!
click email to copy
©2024 Tamara Sher. All Rights Reserved.
Ready to work together?
Let’s do this!
click email to copy