filament-games

Engineering game promotes problem solving, mechanical concepts


Backyard Engineers is designed to break down difficult design concepts into simple, easy-to-learn game mechanics

filament-gamesThe education gaming landscape continues to take shape, and more teachers are looking to implement learning games that teach core subject areas.

Backyard Engineers, a new game from Filament Games, is designed to teach engineering concepts and problem solving skills. It aims to help students from middle school to high school understand the principles of engineering design through experimentation.

In Backyard Engineers, players lead the charge into a water balloon battle with the kids next door. By designing and adjusting catapults to launch water balloons, students learn how manipulating mechanical components affects their catapult’s range and accuracy. Each level of the game is a unique puzzle that challenges players to find the fastest and most efficient way to soak their neighbors.

Next page: How the game breaks down difficult concepts

“Backyard Engineers is designed to break down difficult mechanical design concepts into simple, easy-to-learn game mechanics,” said Dan White, Filament Games’ co-founder and Chief Product Officer. “This makes a complex subject like engineering much more approachable and enjoyable to learn.”

Like all games designed by Filament Games, Backyard Engineers is aligned with state standards and requirements, including Benchmarks for Science Literacy, Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards and Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills.

Backyard Engineers will be available for purchase on February 18 through the Filament Learning Store.

In June, Filament Games was awarded first place in the inaugural Games Learning Society (GLS) Showcase for its immersive science game, Reach for the Sun.

Designed by Abby Friesen, a game designer at Filament Games, Reach for the Sun allows users to experience life as a flower that must grow, breed and thrive across the four seasons. Students learn about plant anatomy and processes by balancing resources such as starch, water and nutrients in order to grow and reproduce. The game is designed for use in an inclusive science classroom by a diverse range of students, and is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Material from a press release was used in this report.

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