Development of an Implementation Framework for Games-Based Construction Learning Using Scratch in Primary Education

Games-based Construction Learning (GBCL) and games-based learning (GBL) are being promoted within the curriculum for excellence (CfE). Children in the Upper Primary (Primary 4 onwards) are now being encouraged to construct their own games. These changes have been made from the previous curriculum and are causing frustration with some teachers who believe that they have been left without adequate resources and professional development to introduce such approaches into their lessons. Surveys have shown that while teachers are making some use of GBL in their class very little is being done with GBCL. With environments such as Scratch, Kodu and Gamemaker, game construction is becoming more accessible to children at a younger age. This paper will present an implementation framework for the introduction of GBCL into PE by utilising Scratch. It will discuss the literature surrounding GBCL in PE before presenting a generalised framework for the introduction of GBCL into PE. The framework is based on empirical work carried out in 3 primary schools within Glasgow in 2011/2012 and aims to give teachers a starting point for using GBCL in the classroom.