What essential resources and/or new skills do you need for your project to be successful? How are you going to gain these?
For my project, I will need to acquire several sets of skills. Perhaps the most significant, is the skill of game design. Having only designed a board game once, in middle school, I have limited experience. I am particularly wary of the logics of the board game, and making sure that there are no loopholes / loose ends. To acquire this skill, I will attempt to take a short course on board game design from YouTube, and consult with the Games Hub in Lauriston Park to get their advice on game design. I will also look at other board games and what has made them successful, getting ideas for my design along the way. Already, I have been inspired by techno-morality game decks and dilemmas. I will also research free software which may be useful for designing my game, and which has the capability to be uploaded as open source content. I will also have to consider where I want to upload the open source game, and understand the specifics of this process. I will remain alert for companies which may want to partner with me in this process, both through the fair and through researching Edinburgh based companies online.
I have also begun to learn how to use 3D modelling software to design 3D prints, which I hope to use in designing pieces that may be relevant for my board game. These can additionally be uploaded as open source elements, and made available for people to download alongside the board game. I think this would add a certain flair! I would ideally like to leave the finished board game at EFI, to give future students an opportunity to test it out and perhaps become more aware of their AI and data rights themselves.
Secondly, I will need to develop skills in breaking down complex legal and ethical concepts in a way which is understandable to children. I will consult with Prof John Zerilli on this, and critically make use of AI tools like ChatGPT to explain and simplify concepts. I will also look for research on how to explain complex concepts simply, and methods for easy memorisation, drawing on different learning styles. Given that gamification will undoubtedly play a role, I will also find research in this field to draw from.
Finally, I will need to understand which aspects particularly engage children, encourage healthy competition, and make them excited. The goal is to make this game as involved as possible, to maximise the considerations of AI and data rights and ethics from a young age. Alongside purveying research, I’ll consult with my peers in Education Futures, many of which have experience teaching, to understand their experiences and recommendations.
Aside from these skills, I will also need to manage my time well, and work consistently. I want to be able to gain feedback from people early, and adapt the game with the goal of making it as appealing as possible. I’ll also need to go forward with confidence in a field I haven’t tackled before, and ask for help from experts at EFI.
