Exploring STEM Education with GDevelop: Inspiring Young Minds

Algorithmics Marseille, a French private educational institution founded in 2023, is teaching an array of after-school and holiday workshops focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. Dedicated to inspiring creativity and problem-solving in children as young as 9 years old, the school has embraced innovative tools like GDevelop to help kids learn new skills.

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Why Is Your School Using GDevelop?

GDevelop is a core tool in the STEM curriculum, as Evandro, the head teacher at Algorithmics Marseille, explains:

“GDevelop is a great tool for inspiring kids to turn their ideas into reality. It’s perfect for showing them the possibilities of future careers in tech.”

The workshops are five days long, accommodating 12 children with the guidance of two teachers. During this time, the kids work from a specifications list to implement in their games, which includes creating an interface, combining interactive game mechanics, designing characters, and structuring multiple scenes. Throughout the week, children not only design their games but also learn key STEM skills such as logic, mathematics, and basic programming principles.

How Children Face the Challenges

"Working with young children comes with its own set of challenges." — Evandro

For many, understanding game development and digital logic can be overwhelming at first. GDevelop helps lower the barrier with its accessibility, and to further support the children, Evandro and his colleagues are present throughout the week to answer their questions and guide them in the design thinking process, helping them find the best solutions for implementing complex game mechanics or debugging errors.

Additionally, while the school is located in France, GDevelop itself is translated into more than 50 languages. The school uses the software in English to provide a better understanding of technical concepts. As children encounter various game development terms, educators translate key vocabulary and provide bilingual instructions, ensuring that students can fully grasp the concepts while expanding their technical vocabulary in both French and English, as well as their STEM skills.

The school has also incorporated collaborative learning, where students work in teams to troubleshoot problems and brainstorm solutions. This method not only makes the learning experience more interactive but also helps children build and strengthen their social communication and teamwork skills.

Developing skills for young children

Algorithmics Marseille's STEM workshops, featuring GDevelop, have been successful in inspiring young learners to explore the world of game development and technology. By the end of the five-day workshops, students leave with their own fully functional games, a sense of accomplishment, and enhanced confidence, along with improved problem-solving, logical thinking, and creativity skills.

As more schools seek innovative ways to teach STEM and programming skills, GDevelop stands out as a powerful tool that meets these needs. Evandro emphasized the importance of starting young:

“Kids develop these skills early and gain an advantage. If they enjoy it, they may pursue careers in engineering, development, or architecture. They also build confidence and gain sociability.” — Evandro

Algorithmics Marseille’s efforts are a testament to the platform's potential in shaping future tech innovators.