WorldBuilders: Digital Literacies and Media Arts in Primary Education

We are looking for Videogame Artists and Designers for a new project, WorldBuilders, focused on professional development and learning for primary teachers. So if you are a games, music or sound designer, an animator, a digital artist / storyteller or a VR/AR specialist we would love to hear from you.

The WorldBuilders project, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, is a two year action research programme that aims to build teachers’ confidence in using media arts to teach digital literacies. A consortium of Yorkshire and Derbyshire schools and artists will form a learning community with colleagues from The School of Education and the Maker{Futures} programme at The University of Sheffield and The National Videogame Museum to develop activities which position children as the videogames makers of the future.

The WorldBuilders project is part of the University’s Maker{Futures} programme driven by the University’s School of Education and the Literacies Research Cluster. Maker{Futures} aims to promote maker education and develop digital literacies in schools, libraries and museums.

Videogames are a highly popular and dynamic art form, featuring imaginative fictional ‘worlds’ in which stories unfold. When children play videogames they are involved in the reading of complex multimodal narratives and when they make videogames they become digital authors. Teachers need support and inspiration to ensure that more children can access and benefit from these opportunities. Working with Maker{Futures}, artist practitioners and the National Videogames Museum, teachers will undertake a programme of continued professional development and learning in order to be able to incorporate videogames into their teaching of literacy and support children’s development as digital authors. Teachers will be encouraged to adopt new approaches to designing engaging learning experiences for children, informed by an understanding of sound, music, moving image and design of videogames.

The programme will be led by Dr Alison Buxton with an advisory group chaired by our lead school (Northfield Junior School) Headteacher Rebecca Timperley. Leah Dungay and Claire Mead from The National Videogames Museum will be key partners. Dr Becky Parry is PI for the research and main contact for this aspect of the work.

Who are we looking for?

Diverse artists who can act as a role model for the future generation of videogame designers: Videogame Designers; Animators; Digital Artists; Music / Sound Designers; Interactive /digital storytellers and VR/AR specialists.

Essential Skills and Experiences

• A creative skill related to the design of videogames and a passion for videogames.
• Experience of or interest in working with teachers and children (age 7–11).
• Commitment to creating equal opportunities for children through the arts.
• The ability to share the skills you use in your own creative work with others, in ways that are enjoyable and accessible?
• Ability or desire to learn to communicate your creative process to a wider audience.
• Prepared to apply for a DBS check to be cleared to work with children and young people.

Desirable Skills and Experiences

To be part of a wider learning community, have experience of creating resources to support teaching and learning and an ability to travel to schools in Yorkshire and Humberside and / or connect with teachers online.

What will you be doing?

• You will work with teachers to share your creative design processes and help them design some classroom activities to try out (see project description).
• You will be part of a wider community of learners (teachers, researchers, designers and artists) who will design, try out and reflect on creative activities with children?
• You will create digital content sharing your creative skills and approaches.
• You will also be involved in professional development, discussion and dissemination activity as part of a local group and also the national Paul Hamlyn Foundation programme cohort for 2021–23.

Fee: £6000 for a total of 30 days at £200 per day (including VAT) to be undertaken over 18 months. The artist / designer will be expected to cover their own transport costs.

To apply: Send a CV with examples of your work and a one page (or digital equivalent) expression of interest, showing why you want to be part of this programme and how you fulfil the brief to r.l.parry@sheffield.ac.uk. If you have any questions about these roles please email Dr Becky Parry, University of Sheffield at r.l.parry@sheffield.ac.uk Closing date: November 17th 2021.

We are keen to attract a diverse group of artists and designers, and we are aware that some under-represented groups are typically less likely to apply for these roles unless they are sure they comfortably meet all the criteria. With this in mind, we encourage all potential candidates to reflect on their strengths and experience in the broadest sense, including transferable skills where appropriate, when considering their suitability for the position. In all cases, we will select the best candidates for the roles. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University. We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements where possible and reasonable assistance, if you want to make your requirements known to us. If you have any questions about accessibility in the application process, please contact us.