Description of the course
The course is part of the Master’s in Computer Engineering program, branch of Graphical Systems. It focuses on the understanding of the most common applications and the business models of multimedia technologies, effectively applying a project methodology in multimedia design and development of a new product, understanding how to produce a business plan of a new product or service to a set of investors. This course provides the integration of these concepts in the development of advanced and innovative applications. Upon completion of the course students are able to argue the most common applications and the business models of multimedia technologies and business models, analyze the problem to be solved, adopting engineering sciences and best practices, evaluate different approaches for solving the problem by adopting appropriate engineering sciences and best practices, design a solution to the problem by adopting appropriate engineering sciences and best practices, lead the developing process of a product and/or system supported by multidisciplinary teams, analyze the results, adopting appropriate engineering sciences and best practices and evaluate the designed/implemented solution by applying appropriate engine.
The course is based on a fundamental problem-based learning approach. The ICT-INOV platform is supporting that methodology.
Description of the participants
The course is part of the 2nd year of studies in the Master’s in Computer Engineering, branch of Graphical Systems. The ICT-INOV methodology is being deployed in the 2022 – 2023 academic year. A total of 14 students were involved in the process. ICT-INOV was further deployed in the 2023 – 2024 academic year. A total of 20 students were involved in the process. ICT-INOV will be further deployed in the following academic years, reaching additional groups of students.
Description of gamified design thinking activities
The learning activity based on design thinking allows students to reflect on problems that might be solved through multimedia applications. In the current year students had to discuss and find problems related to creating games for handicapped players, and specifically games that foster the game dynamic of collection.
The activity is directly in line with course objectives, which are to integrate emerging pedagogies with state-of-the-art ICT for better addressing specific educational goals in broad learning contexts.
On the first part of the activity students discussed potential problems as a class. Different problems were analyzed and a single problem was selected. Issues related to the solution of the problem were also discussed in the entire class. Students were then divided in 2 groups and each group proposed a programmatic solution. The ICT-INOV educational platform provides instructors with flexibility on structuring learning activities. The activity was structured as follows.
Step 1. Problem identification.
Students were challenged to identify potential problems, understand if these problems could be solved with programmatic solutions and assess if those solutions could be created by the students.
Step 2. Selecting and understanding the problem.
Students selected a challenge to focus on based on the previous identification. They discussed specific issues of the problem.
Step 3. Forming groups.
Students were divided in two teams. Individual roles in the team were assigned by the peers.
Step 4. Point of view.
Students were challenged to redefine their original problem, considering the results of their research in the previous steps, which helped them develop an understanding of the problem from the user’s point of view.
Step 5. Prototype and test.
Students were challenged to solve the problem and deploy the solutions on the ICT-INOV educational platform for posting their projects before they presented their solutions to the entire class.
