UPDATE – After an enlightening conversation earlier with Will Lord I am going ahead with the Games for Learning Network to encompass the East Midlands not just Leicestershire.

I’ve been a great fan of the Redbridge Games Network throughout 2010 and especially all of the fantastic work Dawn Hallybone and her class have been doing with Nintendo DS Lite’s and various console games. So much so that over the last few days I have been toying with the idea of creating a similar network here in Leicestershire the East Midlands hence my blogpost. Unless someone out there knows of a network that currently exists in Leicestershire the East Midlands, I am going to set up the Leicestershire East Midlands Games for Learning Network.

Why set up a Games for Learning Network?

Schools are facing major cuts in their spending power and technology will be seen by some as ‘already in place’ so not requiring much more funding. There are many reasons why that isn’t a great idea but I’ll leave those for now, what does need addressing is the misconception (from my own experiences) that computer games, gaming consoles, handheld game devices and mobile technologies are not suitable tools for teaching and learning. I want that to be rectified and to show schools throughout Leicestershire the East Midlands that these technologies can be used effectively as teaching and learning tools. I want schools to see how they too can use computer games to increase active participation in any subject area and provide a fantastic and fun way to improve teaching and learning that happens in a classroom. I want schools to see that these tools are useful and can become part of a teacher’s everyday toolkit.

It will take time and effort and any help, guidance, words of wisdom will be gratefully accepted. If you have had experience setting up a similar network or know of people I can talk to about such an idea then please fell free to post your comments below. As a teacher I want to make a positive difference in my classroom but I also want to make one out of the classroom too.