Through the weekly assignments for LDT300x, I was able to create digital content that I can use with three programs that I already teach for Pongos Learning Lab (YouTube Stars, Game Design in Roblox, and Social Gaming Safety). Because I chose not to use a single course for this content, the instructional strategy for each item is included in the detail page for that item.
- Digital Document: Video Production Process (YouTube Stars)
- Original Digital Video:
- Enhanced Digital Images: Flyer (YouTube Stars)
- Interactive/Adaptive Module: Social Gaming Safety
- Open Educational Resources (YouTube Stars)
YouTube Stars
Pongos Learning Lab offers the YouTube Stars program in multiple formats, including a 6-hour course, 5-day camp, several 1-hour workshops, and ongoing clubs. The program is for children in grades K-12, but most students are in grades 3-5.
Students who participate in the YouTube Stars program wish to become YouTube content creators. Most students start the program with little to no knowledge of creating videos for YouTube. Many don’t even have a YouTube channel. The program introduces students to:
- Creating a YouTube channel
- The 5-step video production process
- Editing videos with KineMaster and Wondershare Filmora
- Recording and streaming screencasts with OBS
- Creating YouTube branding assets
Game Design in Roblox Studio
The Game Design in Roblox Studio course is for children in grades 3-6. Students who take the course wish to learn how to use Roblox Studio to create an obstacle course (obby) game. Most students start the course with no knowledge of Roblox Studio or creating games for Roblox. This course introduces them to:
- Basic game design concepts
- Using Roblox Studio to add, edit, and manage 3D objects
- Using Lua code to modify objects during gameplay
- Adding “special” objects from the Toolbox, such as kill blocks and conveyers
- Creating checkpoints for an obby
- Publishing and sharing a finished game
In addition to the Game Design in Roblox Studio course, we offer an ongoing Roblox Creators Club for students to share their games for feedback from peers and the instructor.
Social Gaming Safety
Many of the courses offered by Pongos Learning Lab involve gaming in some way, and we have often observed children playing those games unsafely. While we do work with children to make sure they are playing safely when they are under our supervision, we wanted to make sure parents were able to do the same thing. Many parents did not know that the games their children were playing could expose them to unsafe situations, so we created a Social Gaming Safety course. The course is for parents of children in grades K-5 who play social games. In this course we show parents how to:
- Identify which online games are considered “social.”
- List ways to keep a child safe online.
- Make an informed decision about which games their child can play online.