Video Games as Accessible Pedagogy
I recently participated in the Middle Ages in Modern Gaming 2021 digital conference. My brief paper was on the uses of architectural models such as the ones in games such as Assassin's Creed Unity (Ubisoft, 2014) as pedagogic tools in teaching the sensorial nature of Gothic architecture.
As an educator, I believe in access equity. Though video game models are imperfect, they can recreate many of the sensorial aspects of in situ visits without the enormous access barriers.
I also presented about this work for the annual project prize for CARMEN, The Worldwide Medieval Network in 2021; as a finalist, I presented on the benefits of using pre-existing models such as the ones in Assassins Creed.
Entitled 'Interactive Gameplay as an Accessible Pedagogical Tool in Teaching the Middle Ages', my project focused on the use of existing technologies, including video games and VR models, to bring unvisitable places to students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.