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Nu Gamers Handbook

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NuGamers' Partnership

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Project n. 2023-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000155267

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Handbook

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Introduction

Activities

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

What You’ll Find in This Handbook The NuGamers Handbook is organized into three main parts, followed by a focus on the soft skills essential for long-term success. Each section connects theory with practice, offering both encouragement and actionable steps.

Welcome to the NuGamers Handbook! This handbook has been created to support and inspire teachers, trainers, guidance counsellors, and other school staff who want to make game development education more gender-inclusive and help more girls and gender-diverse learners feel confident exploring the field. The gaming industry is one of the fastest-growing creative and technological sectors, yet it has historically been male-dominated. Schools and training providers play a key role in changing this—by shaping learning environments where every learner can picture themselves as a creator, innovator, and future professional. Designed for education settings that offer (or promote) game development pathways, this handbook focuses on the practical actions staff can take to reduce barriers, challenge stereotypes, and strengthen motivation and belonging. Drawing on research insights and input from students, educators, and industry voices, it offers strategies and real-world examples to support inclusive orientation activities and learning experiences—so more girls can discover game development, stay engaged, and thrive.

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

ACTIVITIES

SOFT SKILLS

Understand and face the challenges

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Introduction The game development industry is a dynamic and rapidly expanding field that blends creativity, technology, and innovation. Yet despite its opportunities, many girls encounter significant barriers that prevent them from even considering game development as a possible career. These barriers often stem from cultural and societal biases, family concerns, and personal self-doubt. This section of the handbook explores these challenges in depth and provides practical strategies to overcome them. The goal is to spark interest, build confidence, and highlight the diversity of opportunities within the games industry, ensuring that girls feel encouraged and supported at the very start of their journey.

CHALLENGES:

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

Many families perceive game development as an unstable or non-traditional career path. Common misconceptions include:

Limited job security.
Unclear earning potential.
A lack of understanding of the industry’s scope and career pathways.

Without family support, many students feel discouraged from pursuing their passion for game development.

Many girls do not consider the games industry because they lack exposure to its full range of career options. Mainstream portrayals often focus only on programming or gameplay mechanics, which may not resonate with students interested in art, writing, music, or design. This narrow view excludes the many roles that are vital to game creation.

Societal stereotypes often portray gaming and game development as “male” activities. As a result, many girls experience imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and fear of not belonging. This mindset can discourage them from pursuing opportunities, taking risks, or showcasing their talents.

CHALLENGES

Continue to the ACTIVITIES

PART 1 - ACTIVITIES

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Engaging girls in game development requires a multi-layered approach: addressing family concerns, showcasing the wide range of career opportunities, and building the confidence to overcome self-doubt. Together, these strategies open the door to greater participation and ensure that future generations of game developers reflect the diversity of players and society itself. Now it’s time to put these ideas into practice. The following activities will help you explore your talents, challenge stereotypes, and take the first steps toward imagining yourself as a creator in the gaming world.

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

Return to home

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Introduction As girls begin their journey into game development education, their experiences within schools, universities, and training programs play a decisive role in shaping their future careers. While education provides the technical and creative skills needed to succeed, the environment and culture of these institutions are just as critical. Unfortunately, many girls face challenges that stem not from the subject matter itself, but from the culture surrounding it: unconscious biases, stereotypes, and exclusionary practices. Without change, these barriers can lead to isolation, low confidence, or even dropping out of programs entirely.

This section explores two major challenges in education:

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Cultures

By addressing these issues, educators and institutions can ensure that game development learning environments are not only technically enriching but also inclusive, empowering, and sustainable for all students.

CHALLENGES:

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

In many classrooms, girls report feeling like outsiders due to their smaller numbers. Unconscious biases, gender stereotypes, and the absence of visible role models reinforce feelings of isolation. These barriers may result in reduced participation, lack of confidence, and, in some cases, students abandoning their studies altogether.

Game development workplaces often mirror broader societal issues: gender imbalances, inequitable practices, and exclusionary cultures. If students are only trained in technical skills, they may feel unprepared to confront or change these dynamics once they enter the industry.

CHALLENGES

Continue to the ACTIVITIES

PART 2: ACTIVITIES

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Education in game development must go beyond technical training. By fostering inclusive learning environments and preparing students to navigate and transform workplace culture, we empower girls to thrive at every stage of their journey. When institutions prioritize inclusivity, resilience, and leadership, they not only prepare individuals for careers—they also help reshape the entire industry into a more equitable and innovative space. Now it’s your turn to apply these ideas. The following activities will guide you in building supportive communities, strengthening leadership skills, and practicing strategies that make education more inclusive for everyone.

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

Return to home

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Introduction The game development industry is a highly competitive field with vast opportunities for growth and creativity. However, girls and women often face unique barriers when entering and advancing in the workforce. These challenges range from limited access to professional networks to gender bias, discrimination, and exclusionary workplace cultures. To empower girls to succeed, it is essential to provide targeted strategies and practical solutions that prepare them not only to compete but to thrive. This part of the handbook addresses two critical areas:

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career – supporting girls as they transition into the job market by equipping them with tools to network, promote themselves, and secure opportunities.
Overcoming Workplace Challenges – helping girls navigate bias, inequality, and professional barriers once employed, while building resilience and fostering change.

CHALLENGES:

Overcoming Workplace Challenges

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Overcoming Workplace Challenges

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career

Game development remains a male-dominated field, and newcomers, especially girls, often struggle to break into professional networks. Networking is essential for discovering opportunities, securing mentorship, and gaining insights into the industry, yet barriers such as underrepresentation, limited access to events, and self-doubt in self-promotion can restrict entry.

Securing a position is only the first step. Once in the workforce, girls may face gender bias, stereotyping, unequal treatment, or exclusion from leadership roles and key decision-making. These issues can undermine confidence, impact job satisfaction, and slow career progression.

CHALLENGES

Continue to the ACTIVITIES

PART 3: ACTIVITIES

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Breaking into the game development industry and thriving within it requires more than technical expertise. Girls and women need access to networks, mentorship, and continuous skill development, along with strategies to navigate bias and exclusion in the workplace. By focusing on career entry and workplace resilience, this part of the handbook equips aspiring developers not only to compete, but also to lead, innovate, and help transform the industry into a more inclusive and dynamic space. Now it’s time to put these insights into action. The following activities will help you practice networking, strengthen your personal brand, prepare for interviews, and build the confidence to face workplace challenges head-on.

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Return to home

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Soft Skillsthat Empower Studentsin Game Development

The Importance of Soft Skills in Navigating Challenging Workplaces While technical expertise is crucial in game development, soft skills, such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, decision making, or also critical thinking, and contest-awareness, emotional intelligence, are equally essential for navigating challenging workplaces and driving cultural transformation. These skills enable individuals to build effective relationships, resolve conflicts, and adapt to changing environments, all of which are critical in both educational and professional settings. In the context of game development, soft skills not only help students thrive within diverse teams but also empower them to shape inclusive and collaborative workplace cultures. As the industry evolves, the need for well-rounded professionals who can combine technical abilities with strong interpersonal skills is becoming increasingly clear.

COMMUNICATION

COLLABORATION AND TEAMWORK

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

LEADERSHIPAND INITIATIVE

Return to home

ACTIVITIES

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

Learning about challenges and strategies is important, but true growth comes from practice, reflection, and application. That’s why this handbook includes a dedicated section for activities. Each activity is designed to translate ideas into action, giving you hands-on ways to build skills, strengthen confidence, and apply what you’ve learned. Within each category, you will find exercises, discussions, and practical tools that can be used individually, in classrooms, or in professional settings. Some focus on building self-confidence, while others encourage teamwork, advocacy, or technical exploration.

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

ACTIVITIES PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

ACTIVITY 1.1Showcasing the Game Developers’ roles

ACTIVITY 1.3Discovering Careers in the Games Industry

ACTIVITY 1.5Bias Card Game

ACTIVITY 1.2Career reality check (family workshop)

ACTIVITY 1.4Serious Game Design

Review PART 1

Return to home

ACTIVITY 1.1

All the ACTIVITIES

Showcasing the Game Developers’ roles

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

GOAL

Return to home

60-90 min

Expose participants to the real-world diversity of careers in game development through firsthand stories from women in the industry.
Inspire curiosity about roles beyond programming, such as art, sound design, narrative, production, and marketing.
Encourage self-reflection on how participants’ skills and passions align with potential careers in game dev.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

EXPECTED IMPACT

ACTIVITY 1.2

All the ACTIVITIES

Career reality check

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

GOAL

Return to home

80 min

Helps families and students understand the diversity of career opportunities in the gaming industry and overcome concerns about job stability by engaging them in a playful, informative workshop.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

MATERIALS

Where teachers can search for gaming sector data

Women Role Models in Gaming

ACTIVITY 1.3

All the ACTIVITIES

Discovering Careers in the Games Industry

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

GOAL

Return to home

90 min

To broaden students’ understanding of career opportunities in the games industry, showing how diverse skills (art, writing, coding, sound, communication) contribute to game creation. The activity promotes teamwork, peer learning, and appreciation of non-traditional roles, especially for students who may not see themselves as “coders.”

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

MATERIALS

ROLE CARDS

Marketing Mini-challenge

ACTIVITY 1.4

All the ACTIVITIES

Serious Game Design

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

GOAL

Return to home

2-3 hours

Helping students understand the wide range of skills involved in game design while strengthening key soft skills such as creative thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

BEFORE STARTING

ACTIVITY 1.5

All the ACTIVITIES

Bias Card Game

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

GOAL

Return to home

120 min

The Bias Card Game helps students become aware of the unconscious biases that influence our decisions, behaviors, and interactions with others at work.
By naming and exploring these biases, we open space for curiosity, self-reflection, and mutual understanding, also out of the class context.
The game supports teams in building more inclusive, thoughtful, and bias-aware ways of collaborating.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

BEFORE STARTING

SETUP

DOWNLOADABLES

ACTIVITIES PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

ACTIVITY 2.1Brave Spaces

ACTIVITY 2.4Soft Skills Cards

ACTIVITY 2.2Co-design a common agreement with the class

ACTIVITY 2.5The Mad Sad Glad Retrospective

Review PART 2

ACTIVITY 2.3Community Canvas

Return to home

ACTIVITY 2.1

All the ACTIVITIES

Brave Spaces

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

GOAL

Return to home

45 min

These are the guidelines for creating a brave space together with the class. The concept of brave space is a step further from the traditional safe space. Brave space encourages everyone to engage constructively. The ultimate goal is to create a space that promotes an individual's growth, not by erasing discomfort, but creating a space that provides the chance to step out of one’s comfort zone.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

ACTIVITY 2.2

All the ACTIVITIES

Co-design a common agreement with the class

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

GOAL

Return to home

1.5-2 h

Promote equity and inclusion in STEM learning environments, especially for girls and marginalized genders.
Empower students to collectively define respectful behaviors and shared values in their classroom.
Build a sense of ownership and accountability by involving all students in the co-creation of rules and agreements.
Foster empathy, dialogue, and awareness around gender-based challenges in STEM education.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

BEFORE STARTING

MATERIALS

ACTIVITY 2.3

All the ACTIVITIES

Community Canvas

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

GOAL

Return to home

2-3 hours

Establishing supportive networks, such as women’s groups or clubs for game development.
Helping build stronger communities and make people more connected.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

BEFORE STARTING

MATERIALS

ACTIVITY 2.4

All the ACTIVITIES

Soft Skills Cards

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

GOAL

Return to home

40 min

Stimulating students’ experience of diverse roles within a group, regardless of gender or personal inclination, thereby fostering the acquisition of new soft skills.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

MATERIALS

ACTIVITY 2.5

All the ACTIVITIES

The Mad Sad Glad Retrospective

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

GOAL

Return to home

60 min

Facilitating the unveiling and free sharing of emotions experienced by participants in a training activity, identifying potential areas for improvement in a collaborative way.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

ACTIVITIES PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career

ACTIVITY 3.3Soft skills in action

ACTIVITY 3.1Show Your Power: Build Your Digital Presence

ACTIVITY 3.4Reflection on one’s own learning

ACTIVITY 3.2Negotiation

Review PART 2

ACTIVITY 3.5Gamebadge

Return to home

ACTIVITY 3.1

All the ACTIVITIES

Show Your Power: Build Your Digital Presence

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

GOAL

Return to home

120 min

To help young people develop digital literacy and confidence in presenting themselves online. The activity guides students in creating a personal digital portfolio or professional profile that showcases their skills, projects, and interests, promoting ownership of achievements and peer inspiration.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

ACTIVITY 3.2

All the ACTIVITIES

Negotiation

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

GOAL

Return to home

70-90 min

Build awareness of gender bias in negotiation and teach strategies to overcome it. Help students understand their value, practice negotiation in a safe setting, and strengthen confidence, communication, and self-advocacy.
Use AI-powered simulations to rehearse real scenarios, get feedback, and build readiness for future professional opportunities.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

BEFORE STARTING

ACTIVITY 3.3

All the ACTIVITIES

Soft skills in action

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

GOAL

Return to home

90 min

Strengthen teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through a playful group challenge that mirrors real-life studio collaboration.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

MATERIALS

ACTIVITY 3.4

All the ACTIVITIES

Reflection on one’s own learning

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

GOAL

Return to home

60 min

Reflecting on one’s own learning from different perspectives. This helps the student to consider different points of views and realise their own growth. The reflection has best value when done at the end of a course or a project rather than after one lesson.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

ACTIVITY 3.5

All the ACTIVITIES

Gamebadge

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

GOAL

Return to home

70 min

Raise awareness among girls about the diverse career paths in the game industry, beyond programming and gameplay mechanics. Help them discover roles that align with their skills and interests (e.g., art, storytelling, sound design, marketing, UX, etc.) and inspire them to explore these opportunities.

HOW TO DO THIS ACTIVITY

TIPS

http://www.all-digital.org/ Brussels, Belgium

http://www.algebra.hr/ Zagreb, Croatia

http://www.sineglossa.it/ Ancona, Italy

http://www.xamk.fi/ Kuvola, Finland

http://www.futuregames.se/ Stockholm, Sweden

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

How It Translates to Workplace Success?

High EQ enables students to handle criticism with grace, manage stress under pressure, giving constructive feedback, and build positive, respectful relationships with colleagues and superiors.

Why It's Important?

Key Skills:

Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one's emotions, as well as recognizing and responding to the emotions of others. In the workplace, this translates to better relationship management, stress management, and conflict resolution—key to maintaining a positive and productive work environment.

Self-awareness
Empathy
Self-regulation
Motivation

HOW TO

The Guide (Harry Potter) As the Guide, you're the one who steps up when things get tough, just like Harry. You might not always want to be in charge, but you know every group needs inspiration, and this time, you’ll be the one providing it! Your main job is to help the team stay focused on the goal, make sure everyone feels included, and inspire all to do their best, especially when facing tricky challenges. The Supporter (Ron Weasley) You're the glue of the group, much like Ron! Your main power is your loyalty and awesome encouragement. When someone feels down or stuck, you're there to cheer them on, offer a helping hand, or even lighten the mood with some humor. You make sure everyone feels valued and that no one is left behind. Your presence helps the whole team feel stronger and more confident. The Ideator (Fred & George Weasley) Get ready to unleash your inner Fred and George! Your role is all about sparking new ideas and thinking outside the box. Don't be afraid to suggest wild, unconventional solutions – no idea is too silly! You'll be the one to brainstorm possibilities, find creative ways around obstacles, and infuse the team with energy and innovative thinking. Let those ideas flow! The Researcher (Hermione Granger) You're the ultimate knowledge-seeker and organizer, just like Hermione! Your main task is to find the information the team needs, whether it's facts, figures, or best practices. You'll also be great at keeping things organized, taking notes, and making sure all the details are covered. You turn questions into answers and chaos into order, making sure the team has everything it needs to succeed. The Reflector (Minerva McGonagall) You're the wise eye of the group, channeling your inner Professor McGonagall! Your job is to take a step back and observe what's happening. You'll help the team evaluate their progress, spot any potential problems or things that could be done better, and make sure everyone is staying on track and following the plan. You bring clarity and help the team learn from their actions.

1. Soft Skills Cards can be used in any group activity with teams of a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 8 people. 2. Before starting the group activity, each participant draws a card. The role described on the card is the one they will play during the activity. 3. There are 5 cards in the deck, corresponding to the 5 roles of Guide, Supporter, Ideator, Researcher, and Reflector. If the group has 4 people, the Reflector card can be removed. If the group has more than 5 people, the Ideator card can be duplicated (6 people), followed by the Researcher (7 people), and finally the Supporter (8 people). 4. Here are the Soft Skills Card descriptions (each soft skill is paired with a character from the well-known Harry Potter saga, helping participants embrace their assigned role in a fun and engaging way):

HOW TO

1. Introduction Explain to the class that we are going to do a game about Bias, through the use of Cards. Create a circle of chairs. 2. Debaters Ask for 3 (if the class is composed of 6 people) or no more than 4 volunteers (when the class is up to 20 people). They are going to be the “debaters”, but do not tell them. Assure them that they are not going to perform anything complicated, or dangerous: ask them to wait out of the room for 3 minutes. You are going to call them back in. 3. Listeners While the group of debaters is out of the class, distribute to the others (the Listeners) the Bias Cards. Each of them contains the Name of the Bias, its brief description and an Example. Organize Listeners in groups of two, and give to each couple from 3 to 4 Bias Cards (depending on the class numbers), from different clusters. Let the couples read individually the Bias they have on their cards and check for understanding. If there is any trouble in comprehension, supply additional explanations and examples to the specific Bias. Finally, explain to them that they will have to listen to the Debaters while they debate, and take note when the Bias on their Cards are activated.

4. Debate Invite Debaters in, in the center of the circle, and sit on chairs. Thank them for their volunteering, and reassure them that their contribution is fundamental for the awareness about the topic. None of the others (the Listeners) are going to blame or judge what they do or say: they will just listen. Now launch the question they have to debate. It should be something that may open to different arguments, not something to which students can just respond with a “yes” or “no”. For example, you can use a question as “What do you think about generational differences?”, or “Social digital platforms exert pressure and influence on political debate and elections. Do you agree? Should National States intervene? Why?” 5. Check for Bias First, explain to the Debaters what Listeners were supposed to do while they were debating. Then, ask the Listeners, couple by couple, if any bias was activated, with the precise sentence and the moment of the debate when it came out. When a bias comes out, ask if they act in that way also in their daily life (this helps in anchoring the consciousness to something they know or they perform) Conclusions In conclusion, if there is any question, the teacher answers, and may stimulate debate asking for examples in students’ life, to better understand some bias, and invite them to imagine some hack, or way to manage them.

Materials

Career Cards

Game Artist

Programmer

Printed Career Cards.
Sticky notes & markers.
Flipchart/board.
Projector (optional, for industry data/role model slides).
Optional props for role-plays (toy microphone, hats, markers).

Sound Design /Composer

Narrative Designer

QA Tester

Community Manager

UX Designer

Producer

Transitioning from education to the workplace presents its own challenges. Girls and women often face bias in hiring, unequal pay, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. This section provides practical guidance on building professional networks, preparing strong portfolios, and confidently navigating job applications and interviews. We also address workplace realities, including how to respond to bias and advocate for inclusion. Here, the emphasis is on turning passion into opportunity and building sustainable, fulfilling careers in the industry.

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

START PART 3

Possible Solutions...

Without support, these challenges contribute to attrition and underrepresentation of women in senior roles. Equipping girls with advocacy strategies, resilience skills, and workplace allies ensures they can not only survive but also shape healthier, more equitable professional environments.

Overcoming Workplace Challenges

Professional Development and Leadership Opportunities

Self-Advocacy and Confidence-Building

Allyship and Peer Support

Bias Awareness Training for Organizations

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage assertive communication, goal-setting, and recognition of personal value in the workplace. Confidence and clarity help individuals push back against bias and advocate for fair treatment.

Seek out training programs, stretch assignments, and opportunities to lead small projects or initiatives. Mentorship builds confidence, provides insider knowledge, and gives young professionals role models to emulate.

Encourage workplaces to implement unconscious bias training, inclusive hiring practices, and transparent promotion systems. Structural change reduces barriers at the root and creates fairer environments for all employees.

Build peer-support networks within companies or industry groups, fostering solidarity and shared advocacy. Build peer-support networks within companies or industry groups, fostering solidarity and shared advocacy.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Possible Solutions...

Networking and Building Relationships

Practicing Negotiation Skills

Mentorship Programs

Personal Branding and Self-Promotion

Skill Development and Continued Learning

Strong professional connections and visibility open doors that may otherwise remain closed. By equipping girls with the skills to network, negotiate, and build their personal brand, we strengthen their ability to access opportunities and establish meaningful careers.

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage lifelong learning through certifications, workshops, and personal projects. Promote specialization in areas of passion. Continuous growth ensures competitiveness and helps candidates stand out in a fast-evolving job market.

Support students in creating strong portfolios, sharing projects on social media, and actively showcasing achievements. A visible, well-crafted personal brand increases credibility and attracts opportunities from employers and collaborators.

Teach salary research, help girls understand fair market ranges, and practice negotiation scripts with realistic scenarios. Fact-based arguments and rehearsal reduce self-doubt and strengthen confidence in asking for fair pay and recognition.

WHAT TO DO

Encourage participation in conferences, game jams, hackathons, online forums, and professional networks like LinkedIn. Networking creates pathways to collaborations, referrals, and mentorship opportunities that are otherwise inaccessible.

Pair girls with experienced mentors in the industry for guidance, emotional support, and career advice. Mentorship builds confidence, provides insider knowledge, and gives young professionals role models to emulate.

WHY IT WORKS

Possible Solutions...

Inclusive Classroom Practices

Inclusive environments allow students to thrive academically and personally. When girls feel supported, their confidence grows, their performance improves, and they are more likely to continue pursuing careers in game development.

Use gender-neutral language, set clear expectations for respect, and actively address instances of bias or exclusion.

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

WHAT TO DO

Collaborative Learning

This creates a fair and respectful environment where all students feel valued and safe.

WHY IT WORKS

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage group projects that deliberately mix diverse teams and emphasize collaboration.

WHAT TO DO

Community Building

Support the creation of student groups, mentorship circles, or clubs focused on women and underrepresented voices in game development.

Working together breaks down stereotypes, builds empathy, and fosters mutual respect.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

These networks provide role models, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, which help students stay motivated and resilient.

WHY IT WORKS

ACTIVITIES

Understanding and facing the challenges

ACTIVITIES

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Provide Data on Industry Growth and Opportunities Share reports and statistics about the global games industry, highlighting its rapid growth and the increasing demand for skilled professionals in roles such as programming, design, art, and narrative writing.

Showcase Success Stories and Pathways Present examples of successful developers, especially women and underrepresented individuals, to demonstrate real-life career stability. Clearly map out educational and professional pathways that lead to rewarding careers.

Possible Solutions...

Engage Families in the Process Encourage families to interact with games and game-making tools themselves. Direct involvement helps dispel misconceptions and allows them to see the value of this career path.

Emphasize Transferable Skills Explain how skills developed in game development (coding, storytelling, teamwork, creative problem-solving) are highly valued in other industries such as tech, education, and media.

HOW TO

4. Plenary co-creation session(20–30 min) • Create a shared board (physical or digital) where each group presents their points. • Discuss and negotiate common agreements, merging similar ideas. • Use consensus or democratic voting to finalize a list of 6–10 core community agreements. 5. Naming and committing(10–15 min)• Let the class title their agreement (e.g. “STEM Safe Space Pact”). • Invite everyone to sign or mark it in a way that symbolizes shared commitment. • Decide together where and how it will be displayed or revisited.

1. Kick-off with a stimulus (15–20 min) Show a short video, infographic, or personal story (real or anonymized) about gender bias or exclusion in STEM. Example: “Why do fewer girls choose STEM?” → Ask: What stood out to you? How would you feel in that situation? Have you seen or experienced something similar? 2. Silent individual reflection (5–10 min) Ask students to write down: • What helps me feel safe and confident in class? • What makes me feel excluded or uncomfortable? • What would a fair, inclusive classroom look like? 3. Small group discussion (15–20 min) In diverse small groups, students share ideas and look for common themes. Each group picks 3–5 behaviors or values they believe are essential to a safe STEM space.

Possible Solutions...

Leadership and Advocacy Training

These skills empower students to speak up, advocate for themselves, and support others in professional spaces.

WHAT TO DO

To truly succeed, students need more than technical proficiency. They must also develop the confidence, resilience, and advocacy skills that will allow them not only to survive but also to transform workplaces into more inclusive environments.

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Resilience Building

Incorporate opportunities to practice leadership roles in projects, teach negotiation skills, and provide training in advocacy.

WHY IT WORKS

Provide workshops or mentorship programs focused on overcoming setbacks, managing bias, and maintaining confidence in challenging situations.

WHY IT MATTERS?

WHAT TO DO

Highlight Real-World Case Studies

Resilience helps students adapt to difficulties and continue progressing in their careers.

Share examples of how professionals have addressed bias or worked to change company culture in game studios.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Case studies connect classroom learning to real-world applications and inspire students to see themselves as agents of change.

WHY IT WORKS

HOW TO

4. Myth Busting Facts (10 min)

Facilitator presents real data:
Industry size (global + national)
Example salaries (using survey links, e.g. Finland Game Makers)
Women role models in gaming (photos/names).

5. Reflection Wall (15 min)

Give everyone sticky notes: “At the start, I thought…” / “Now I know…”
Stick notes on a “Myth Busting Wall.”

6. Closing (5 min) Facilitator thanks participants, highlights that gaming careers are diverse, and skills are transferable.

1. Introduction (10 min)

The facilitator welcomes families and explains the goal: to explore game careers, bust myths, and see transferable skills.
Quick icebreaker: Ask families to name the first 3 jobs they think exist in gaming. Write on the board.

2. Career Cards Activity (20 min)

Hand out Career Cards (below). Each family/group gets 2–3 random cards.
Their mission: prepare a mini-pitch (3 min) convincing others why this career is valuable, stable, and future-proof. They can act it out, draw a poster, or simply explain.

3. Group Presentations (20 min)

Each family/group shares its pitch with everyone. Encourage humour and creativity.

These activities are designed to help participants prepare for the job market and navigate workplace challenges. They focus on building strong portfolios, practicing interviews, and expanding professional networks. The activities also provide tools to handle bias, advocate for inclusion, and develop confidence in career settings.

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Start activities

Review this part

TIPS

For Large Groups: Use a digital tool (e.g., Miro) to let groups collaborate virtually on the map.
For Younger Participants: Simplify the activity by focusing on 3–4 key roles (e.g., Artist, Writer, Sound Designer, Producer) and use visuals or videos to explain each role.
Adapt for Online Workshops: Share the Gamebadges link in advance and use breakout rooms for group discussions.

Overcoming Stereotypes: If participants say, "I’m not good at coding," emphasize that only 30% of game dev jobs require programming—many roles rely on creativity, teamwork, or problem-solving.
Extra resource: watch on YouTube the video “What jobs can you do in a Game Studio”

Follow-Up: Invite a guest speaker (e.g., a woman working in one of the roles) to share her experience in a future session, or use the podcasts developed in the framework of the NuGamers project.

Where teachers can search for gaming sector data

Global industry reports (simplified summaries are often free):
Newzoo – Global Games Market → leading source on market size, revenues, gamer numbers.
Statista → quick statistics and charts (some free, some behind paywall).
Reuters – Gaming articles → reliable news on market shifts and big launches.

Education-friendly sources:

UNESCO → occasionally publishes reports on digital games in learning and culture.
European Commission – Digital Economy & Society → broader data on digital skills, often with gaming references.

National/regional data:

National statistical offices (e.g. UK’s ONS, Croatia’s DZS, Germany’s Destatis) → often track ICT, media, or cultural industries, including gaming.
Game developer associations (e.g. ISFE – Interactive Software Federation of Europe, ESA – Entertainment Software Association, USA) → publish annual fact sheets with national/regional numbers.

Classroom-usable insights (student focus):

Pew Research Center – Gaming & Teens → easy-to-digest data on who plays and how.
Global Gamer Study – Newzoo → profiles of gamers (motivations, habits, attitudes).

Once girls and gender-diverse individuals begin their educational journey, they often encounter new obstacles. These can include lack of mentorship, unwelcoming classroom environments, and limited access to resources. This part of the handbook explores how schools, universities, and training programs can become more inclusive. We also share strategies for students to thrive academically such as finding supportive communities, building resilience, and developing leadership skills. The focus here is to create learning environments where everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered to succeed.

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

START PART 2

We begin by addressing the barriers that often prevent girls from even considering a career in gaming. From cultural stereotypes and self-doubt to limited visibility of female role models, many challenges exist at the starting point. This section highlights the broad range of skills the industry demands; art, design, coding, storytelling, sound, and project management, and shows how anyone can find a place that matches their talents. Our goal is to spark curiosity, build confidence, and inspire early engagement in game development as a viable and exciting career path.

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

START PART 1

TIPS

Schools can run this during orientation days; youth clubs can host it as a family workshop. Engages parents, reduces scepticism, and builds shared excitement. Keep it playful: Families sometimes come in with scepticism. Use humor and role-play to keep the atmosphere light instead of lecturing them. Use local data: Parents respond well to concrete facts. Show national salary surveys, local game studios, or job ads in your country. Balance roles in groups: If parents dominate, ask students to lead the pitches — this shifts the perspective and empowers the young.

Prepare for misconceptions: Be ready for comments like “this isn’t a stable career.” Have quick counter-facts or success stories on hand. Visuals help: Print posters of women/men from diverse roles in gaming. Seeing real faces makes the careers feel more “real.” Accessibility: If time is short, reduce the number of cards per family (1 instead of 2–3) and skip the reflection wall.

TIPS

Prepare the Role Cards and Game Concept Canvas in advance, so the teacher doesn’t need extra knowledge about gaming careers. Allow flexibility in group size (3–6) depending on class numbers. If technology is limited, all activities can be done on paper with markers. Encourage quick sketches and ideas rather than polished results. Creativity and collaboration are the focus. If some students are shy, let groups present by showing their canvas rather than speaking. For older or more advanced groups, you can include additional roles (producer, tester, streamer) to expand perspectives.

MATERIALS

Sticky notes or digital whiteboard (e.g. Jamboard, Miro, Mural, Padlet)
Markers, poster paper, or a shared document to create the final agreement

Video or visual material

(e.g. The hidden women of STEM - Alexis Scott | TED-Ed)

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

START PART 2

HOW TO

Warm-Up (5 min)

Facilitator introduces the challenge: “You are a game studio. Your task is to design a brand-new game in only 45 minutes!”
Quick icebreaker: ask teams to name 3 skills they think game developers need besides coding.

Form Teams & Assign Roles (5 min)

Divide into teams of 4–6 (ensure mixed gender/skills).
Hand out Role Cards (below). Each participant takes on a role (different from their usual strengths).

Design Sprint (45 min)

Reveal Theme Prompt Cards (below). Each team draws one theme at random.
Teams design a paper prototype (board game, card game, or digital game concept).
Provide paper, markers, sticky notes, and scissors.

Presentations (20 min)

Each team has 3 minutes to pitch their game.
The audience can ask one question per team.
Reflection Circle (10 min)

Facilitator asks:

What was the hardest part of working together?
What skills were most useful?
Did anyone discover a hidden strength?

Possible Solutions...

Leadership and Advocacy Training

These skills empower students to speak up, advocate for themselves, and support others in professional spaces.

WHAT TO DO

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Resilience Building

Incorporate opportunities to practice leadership roles in projects, teach negotiation skills, and provide training in advocacy.

WHY IT WORKS

Provide workshops or mentorship programs focused on overcoming setbacks, managing bias, and maintaining confidence in challenging situations.

WHY IT MATTERS?

WHAT TO DO

Highlight Real-World Case Studies

Resilience helps students adapt to difficulties and continue progressing in their careers.

Share examples of how professionals have addressed bias or worked to change company culture in game studios.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Case studies connect classroom learning to real-world applications and inspire students to see themselves as agents of change.

WHY IT WORKS

BEFORE STARTING

Understand the context: Be aware of any gender dynamics, stereotypes, or exclusion patterns in your classroom. Reflect on your own position: Be prepared to act as a facilitator, not an authority figure - your neutrality and openness are key. Create a psychologically safe space: Ensure students know that there will be no judgment and that all voices are valued. Formulate a working definition of "safe space" in advance, and be ready to explore and revise it with students.

These activities focus on creating inclusive and supportive learning environments where everyone can thrive. They provide practical ways to address issues like lack of mentorship, limited resources, or unwelcoming classrooms. Each activity is designed to help students build resilience, develop leadership skills, and find supportive communities that strengthen both confidence and academic success.

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

Start activities

Review this part

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

TIPS

Check in advance that chosen platforms are accessible on school computers (some may require accounts or age restrictions, such as LinkedIn, which is best for 16+).

For younger groups, Canva or Google Sites are recommended. Provide a simple printed checklist so students can follow along independently.

Encourage them to use school-appropriate content if sharing screenshots or links. If time is short, focus only on writing a personal bio and showcasing one project.

For shy students, feedback can be done in pairs instead of whole-class presentations. Teachers can extend the activity by revisiting profiles later in the year, updating with new skills and projects.

BEFORE STARTING

Learning about bias doesn’t have to be heavy: it can be engaging, playful, and thought-provoking. Biases are mental shortcuts our brain uses to process information quickly. They help us make decisions fast, but can lead to unfair or inaccurate judgments. Some biases are conscious, but many operate unconsciously without us realizing it. They affect how we see people, interpret situations, and make choices. Understanding bias is the first step toward making more thoughtful, adequate, and inclusive decisions. Bias Cards are organized in 4 clusters: Decision making, Evaluation of reality, Information, Me and the others. During the process, the teacher takes on the role of facilitator, guiding students through each phase, assigning roles, respecting timetables, and managing eventual judgmental or disrespectful situations. Specific expertise in bias is preferable, due to the final part, when the teacher is supposed to offer feedback, reflections and questions. Just before starting the game, we invite the teacher to explicit the “pact” with the class: during the game no judgement or disrespectful assertion will be allowed. Focus on the content and not on the person who spoke. Participants can be from a minimum of 6, to a maximum of 20.

TIPS

If the group of participants is already very cohesive or has experienced this retrospective technique multiple times, responses can be shared publicly instead of anonymously, provided everyone agrees to this modality.

The retrospective can be applied in a one-shot context, such as a workshop, or in a long-term educational context, like a school class. In the latter case, it's useful to track the retrospectives, comparing results with previous sessions.

The retrospective can be followed by a brainstorming activity, either collective or in groups, to find solutions to the major problems identified during the clusterization. This activity is particularly useful in contexts like school classes, where the effectiveness of developed solutions can be monitored over time.

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

START PART 1

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Before Starting

A serious game is a real game - it includes all the core elements of traditional gameplay (goal, rules, challenges, etc.) - but with an added purpose: to educate or raise awareness about specific issues. In educational contexts, Serious Game Design can be applied to virtually any topic under discussion or exploration, from climate change to gender equality. During the process, the teacher takes on the role of facilitator, guiding students through each phase and offering feedback rather than evaluating the outcomes. No specific expertise in game design is required: the process is designed so that teachers and students can learn together.

These activities are designed to break down barriers, build confidence, and spark curiosity about game development. By exploring different skills, art, coding, storytelling, sound, and design, participants can see how their talents fit into the industry. Each activity encourages girls to challenge stereotypes, overcome self-doubt, and imagine themselves as creators in gaming.

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

Start activities

Review PART 1

Women Role Models in Gaming

Jade Raymond

Amy Hennig

Brenda Romero

Kiki Wolfkill

Kimberly Swift

Siobhan Reddy

Carol Shaw

Dona Bailey

Possible Solutions...

Networking and Building Relationships

Practicing Negotiation Skills

Mentorship Programs

Personal Branding and Self-Promotion

Skill Development and Continued Learning

Breaking Barriers and Building a Career

WHY IT MATTERS?

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

BEFORE STARTING

Community Canvas is released under Creative Commons license BY-NC-SA 4.0. This tool may allow girls to embark on a team reflection: before starting the activities, we recommend to create a common understanding of the tool, its goals and how they want to use it.

Possible Solutions...

Inclusive Classroom Practices

Use gender-neutral language, set clear expectations for respect, and actively address instances of bias or exclusion.

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

WHAT TO DO

Collaborative Learning

This creates a fair and respectful environment where all students feel valued and safe.

WHY IT WORKS

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage group projects that deliberately mix diverse teams and emphasize collaboration.

WHAT TO DO

Community Building

Support the creation of student groups, mentorship circles, or clubs focused on women and underrepresented voices in game development.

Working together breaks down stereotypes, builds empathy, and fosters mutual respect.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

These networks provide role models, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, which help students stay motivated and resilient.

WHY IT WORKS

HOW TO

The teacher should lead the conversation about what kind of rules the group wants to set for their own brave space and make sure everyone understands the guidelines that the group creates. These guidelines can be, for example: 1. Help each other grow. 2. Remember confidentiality. For example, the group may agree to Chatham House Rule: participants can share information from their discussion only without revealing the identity of the speaker. 3. Actively listen. Be present. 4. Don’t judge. Be willing to have your mind changed. 5. Respect everyone’s opinions, experiences and feelings. 6. Don’t be afraid of the discomfort. 7. Collectively make sure everyone has a turn to speak. 8. Recognize the group dynamics. 9. Challenge ideas, not people. In a brave space, individuals are encouraged to share their viewpoints, but they must respect everyone else’s experiences and feelings. An open dialogue without judgement is the most important thing to set in a brave space. A brave space doesn’t have to be “active” all the time, but it works especially with challenging topics or when the dialogue needs encouragement.

In brave spaces, it is encouraged to: • Ask questions when seeking understanding of another person’s viewpoint. • Use “I” statements, speak from your own perspective. • Give room for others to speak. • Strive to leave one’s own comfort zone. • Challenge others respectfully and remember the topic is being challenged, not the person. • Speak up even if the thought is incomplete. • Recognize and share your privileges to understand everyone’s point of view better. • Understand what is your own truth and that it is acceptable to only acknowledge other peoples’ truths and still hold on to your own.

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Leadership and Advocacy Training

These skills empower students to speak up, advocate for themselves, and support others in professional spaces.

WHAT TO DO

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Resilience Building

Incorporate opportunities to practice leadership roles in projects, teach negotiation skills, and provide training in advocacy.

WHY IT WORKS

Provide workshops or mentorship programs focused on overcoming setbacks, managing bias, and maintaining confidence in challenging situations.

WHY IT MATTERS?

WHAT TO DO

Highlight Real-World Case Studies

Resilience helps students adapt to difficulties and continue progressing in their careers.

Share examples of how professionals have addressed bias or worked to change company culture in game studios.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Case studies connect classroom learning to real-world applications and inspire students to see themselves as agents of change.

WHY IT WORKS

LEADERSHIP and INITIATIVE

Key Skills:

Vision
Decision-making
Mentorship

Why It's Important?

Leadership isn’t just about managing teams—it’s about inspiring and motivating others, taking responsibility, and driving change. In an evolving field like game development, students who demonstrate leadership skills can help shape project directions, advocate for innovation, and influence organizational culture.

How It Translates to Workplace Success?

Leadership skills empower students to take charge of projects, offer guidance to others, and promote positive cultural shifts in the workplace.

The games industry is inherently multidisciplinary. It thrives on diverse skills and perspectives. By showcasing the variety of career paths, we can broaden participation and help students recognize how their unique talents fit within the field.

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

WHY IT MATTERS?

Showcase the Diversity of Game Content Expose students to a wide spectrum of genres, from educational and indie games to narrative-driven projects. Highlight how games can reflect themes such as culture, history, social issues, and fantasy.

Demonstrate the Variety of Skills Involved Emphasize that successful game development relies on a balance of skills: art, storytelling, music composition, coding, and project management. This makes the field accessible to individuals with different strengths and passions.

Possible Solutions...

Highlight the Impact of Games Beyond Entertainment Show how games contribute to education, therapy, cultural preservation, and social change. Present gaming not just as fun but as a powerful medium for innovation and influence.

MATERIALS

Community Canvas web site: https://community-canvas.org/

HOW TO

1. Watch the Game career map (15 min): Start by watching the Game career map. Take notes on:

3 roles that caught your attention.
1 skill or task associated with each role that surprises or excites you.

3. Reflect & Connect (20 min): Answer the following questions in a journal or digital document:

Which role(s) from the map or podcasts align with your skills or passions? Why?
What misconceptions about game dev careers did you have before this activity?
What questions do you still have about working in the game industry?

4. Explore Further (Optional, 15+ min): Pick one role that interests you and research:

What tools or software are used in that role? (e.g., Unity for programmers, Procreate for artists)
What educational paths or resources could help you pursue it? (e.g., courses, communities, portfolios)

Write down one actionable step you could take to learn more (e.g., try a free tutorial, join a forum, or sketch a game concept).

2. Listen to the Podcasts (30–45 min): Choose 2–3 episodes from the NuGamers Podcast Series featuring women in game dev. For each episode, reflect on:

What does this person actually do in their job?
What skills or experiences helped them get there?
What challenges or rewards do they mention?

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

BEFORE STARTING

Introduce the concept of negotiation: Clarify that negotiation is a learned skill, not a personality trait—and that women often face unique challenges (e.g. backlash, lower initial offers, social norms linked to lack of self confidence and the imposter syndrome). Explain how generative AI works: • AI generates responses based on patterns from large datasets—it can simulate scenarios, but not offer “truth” or legal advice. • It’s best used as a conversation partner, coach, or sparring partner—not an oracle. Teach basic prompt writing: • Encourage clear, specific prompts (e.g., “Act like a recruiter offering me a job. I want to negotiate a higher salary.”) • Explain that the AI can be re-prompted, corrected, or asked to give feedback.

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Start activities

Review PART 3

HOW TO

1. Introduction (10 min): o Briefly explain the goal: "Today, we’ll explore the many careers in game development using the Gamebadges map. You’ll discover roles you might not have known existed!" o Show the Gamebadges career map on a screen. 2. Map Exploration (20 min): o Divide participants into small groups (3–4 people). o Assign each group 2–3 career categories from the map (e.g., Art, Audio, Design, Business, Tech). o Ask them to:  List 3 roles in their assigned category.  Describe what each role does (using the map’s descriptions).  Brainstorm skills or interests that match those roles (e.g., "If you love drawing, you could be a Concept Artist!"). 3. Group Presentations (15 min): o Each group presents their findings in 2–3 minutes, highlighting:  The roles they explored.  What surprised or interested them.  Which role they’d like to learn more about.

4. Reflection & Discussion (15 min):o Facilitate a group discussion with questions like:  "Did you discover a role you didn’t know existed?"  "Which role aligns with your skills or passions?"  "What stereotypes about game dev careers were challenged today?" o Encourage participants to share personal connections (e.g., "I love writing—maybe I could be a Narrative Designer!"). 5. Action Plan (10 min): o Ask each participant to write down 1–2 roles they’re curious about. o Provide a list of resources (e.g., free courses, YouTube channels, communities like Women in Games) to explore those roles further.

COLLABORATIN AND TEAMWORK

Why It's Important?

Game development often involves working in cross-functional teams, where each member brings different expertise and viewpoints to the table. Effective teamwork is critical for synthesizing these diverse skills and ideas into cohesive game designs.

Key Skills:

How It Translates to Workplace Success?

Cooperation
Respect for diversity
Flexibility
Conflict resolution

Students who understand how to collaborate productively with others will find it easier to navigate workplace dynamics, especially in environments that require constant cooperation between different departments and roles.

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

START PART 1

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

MARKETING MINI CHALLENGE

Gameplay & Mechanics

How does the player interact?
What’s fun or unique about it?

Visual Style (Art)

How does the game look? (cartoon, realistic, pixel art, etc.)
Example sketch space

Sound & Music

What kind of atmosphere does the sound create?
Example sounds / music style?

Invent a slogan or short ad for your game. Example: “Save the galaxy… before it saves you!” Game Concept Canvas (Template) Title of Game: ___________________________ Story / World

What is the setting?
Who are the main characters?
What’s the goal or conflict?

Promotion / Marketing

Who is the target audience?
Slogan, hashtag, or poster idea

TIPS

• If participants or the facilitator are new to game design, it is advisable to keep the games simple, focusing on basic mechanics and minimal rules. • Before starting the activity, it is useful to help students understand the elements that make up a game, by identifying them in some games of their choice. For example, these are the elements of Game of the Goose: Goal: Reach space 63 first with an exact roll. Challenge: Some spaces (the Hazard spaces) hinder the player’s progress, for example by making them lose a turn, sending them back to the starting space, or trapping them until another player comes to release them. Mechanics: Players take turns rolling two dice and move forward accordingly. Rules: If a piece lands on a space with a picture of a goose, it moves forward by the same amount again; If a piece lands on a Hazard space, that piece must follow the stated rule, etc. Components: A spiral shaped board consisting of 63 spaces; Four differently coloured pieces in the shape of a goose; Two six-sided dice. • Encourage students to share as many ideas as possible during brainstorming. A democratic method (e.g. writing one idea per post-it and voting) can help every voice be heard. • Remind participants that game design is about learning through failure. A good game emerges through iteration: discovering what doesn’t work, making improvements, and growing through the process.

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

COMMUNICATION

Why It's Important?

Clear and effective communication is fundamental to collaborating in a multidisciplinary field like game development, where diverse skills and perspectives must come together to create a unified product. Whether it's articulating a design vision, giving constructive feedback, or working with clients, communication ensures that ideas are shared and understood.

Key Skills:

Verbal communication
Written communication
Active listening
Non-verbal communication
Public speaking.

How It Translates to Workplace Success?

ong communication helps students advocate for their ideas, address challenges directly, and collaborate across departments (e.g., design, programming, marketing). Moreover communication skills help in creating trust among work-mates.

HOW TO

The session begins with a short discussion on why self-promotion matters in creative and tech fields and what makes a strong online profile. The facilitator presents two main platform options (Canva portfolio site or LinkedIn, depending on age), plus optional alternatives (Google Sites, Wix). Students select a platform based on their goals and comfort. Working independently, they build their digital presence step by step: writing a personal bio, highlighting skills, showcasing classwork or projects (such as game ideas, art, or screenshots), adding contact links (if appropriate), and customizing with visuals. A printed checklist guides them through the process. Teachers circulate to support with writing, design choices, and technical questions. In the final part, students present their portfolio/profile in small groups or to the class (2–3 minutes each), sharing their personal story, what they included, and what they are proud of. Peers provide positive and constructive feedback, and optional fun badges (Best Design, Most Inspiring Bio, Most Original Project) can be awarded to encourage engagement.

Part 1 (30 min): Intro & Tool Selection

Part 2 (60 min): Build Your Brand

Part 3 (30 min): Peer Showcase & Feedback

Kick-off Discussion (10 min) Ask: • Why is self-promotion important in creative and tech fields? • What makes a good online profile or portfolio? Present 2 free tools to choose from: • Canva Portfolio Website: Easy drag-and-drop website builder, no coding • LinkedIn: Professional network, good for older teens (16+) Students choose one platform based on their age, comfort, and goal.

Each student presents their portfolio or profile in 2–3 minutes to the class or in small breakout groups: • What’s your personal story? • What did you include and why? • What are you proud of? • Peers give positive, constructive feedback: “I really liked how you presented your interests…” or “You could also try adding…” Optional fun badges for recognition: • Best Design • Most Inspiring Bio • Most Original Project

Each student works independently to: • Add a Personal Bio: Who you are, what you love, what you want to do • Highlight skills: e.g., storytelling, coding, art, teamwork • Showcase projects or interests (classwork, game ideas, screenshots, blog post, artwork) • Link to Socials/Contact (if appropriate) • Use images and icons to make it visually engaging Provide a checklist template to help them stay on track. Facilitators walk around to provide support. Portfolio / Profile Checklist ☐ Name and short personal bio ☐ List of skills or strengths ☐ At least 1 project or interest showcased ☐ Images, screenshots, or visuals included ☐ Contact / social links (if safe and appropriate) ☐ Profile looks neat and easy to read

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

START PART 1

CARDS

3. Programmer / Developer What do they do? • Write the code that makes the game work. • Turn designs, art, and sound into a playable experience. • Fix bugs and make sure everything runs smoothly. Real-world example: Platformers like Super Mario depend on carefully coded jump physics. Mini-challenge (5 min): Design a simple control scheme for your game: • Which button makes the character move, jump, or interact? • Add one special action (e.g. teleport, dance, power-up).

1. Game Artist / Designer What do they do? • Create characters, environments, and visual style. • Decide how the game looks and feels. • Work with programmers and writers to make the world believable. Real-world example: Think of Minecraft’s blocky style vs. Fortnite’s cartoon look - both were design choices. Mini-challenge (5 min): Draw a quick sketch of a main character or environment for a new game. Don’t worry about details. Focus on the style (cute, scary, futuristic, etc.).

5. Marketing & Community Manager What do they do? • Promote the game so people hear about it. • Make trailers, social media posts, and posters. • Connect with players, listen to feedback, and build a fan community. Real-world example: Among Us became famous because fans shared memes and streamers promoted it.

4. Sound Designer / Composer What do they do? • Create music, sound effects, and voice work. • Set the mood and atmosphere. • Help players feel emotions (fear, excitement, calm). Real-world example: The music in Pokémon changes between a friendly town and a tense battle. Mini-challenge (5 min): Pick a setting (e.g. spooky cave, space battle, magical forest). List 3 sounds or music styles that would match.

2. Game Writer / Storyteller What do they do? • Create the story, characters, and dialogue. • Write quests, missions, or narrative choices. • Work with designers to match story with gameplay. Real-world example: In Undertale, player choices change the story completely. Mini-challenge (5 min): Invent a short quest or dialogue line for a game. Example: “A villager asks for help finding their lost robot in the forest.”

HOW TO

1. Before you begin: clearly explain the objective of the retrospective to participants, that is to improve the learning environment by welcoming everyone's feedback without judgment. 2. Provide participants with a tool to leave their feedback anonymously. This can be an online tool (e.g., Miro board) or an offline one (e.g., boxes for collecting sticky notes or slips of paper). 3. Give participants a few minutes to fill in three sections: Mad 😠 - What aspect of the activity just experienced caused the most anger or frustration (e.g., things that didn't work, hindered the process, or made them feel overloaded). Sad 😢 - What aspect of the activity caused the most disappointment or discouragement (e.g., unreached goals, lack of progress on certain objectives, feeling demotivated about group work).Glad 😊 - What aspect of the activity brought the most satisfaction or gratification (e.g., things that worked well, results achieved, particularly effective or engaging group dynamics).

Group the answers into macro-themes for each of the three sections, involving participants in the clustering phase. In this phase, teachers will act as facilitators, ensuring all participants actively engage in the discussion and inviting them to share their perspective on the responses, without necessarily having to indicate which ones are their own.

TIPS

• Ask open, inclusive questions like: o “What does respect look like to you?” o “How can we support everyone to speak and be heard?” o “What does a ‘safe learning space’ mean in practice?” • Encourage quieter students through written reflections, or smaller groups where they may feel more comfortable sharing. • Be ready to challenge harmful stereotypes or exclusionary ideas calmly, using them as learning moments. • Use circle seating or group clusters to break classroom hierarchies and foster openness. • Revisit the agreement regularly, especially before STEM group work or projects, and allow for updates as needed.

HOW TO

2. Roleplay Prompt Creation (20-30 min) Students work in pairs or solo to create a prompt for the AI chat generator, in order to simulate a negotiation. First iteration example:• “Pretend you’re a hiring manager offering me a position in a tech company. I want to negotiate for 15% more salary.” • “You’re a recruiter at a robotics firm. I’m a recent graduate asking about a job (or benefits, or career growth).” 3. Chat & Negotiate (20–30 min) Students interact with the AI, carrying out the negotiation in 3-4 rounds. → Encourage them to: • Try different tones (firm vs. collaborative) • Ask for feedback from the AI (“How did I do?”) • Adjust and retry based on outcomes 4. Debrief & Reflection (20-30 min) In small groups or a plenary session, students reflect: • What worked? What didn’t? • How did you feel asking for more? • What would you do differently in a real negotiation? 5. Optional Extension Students use AI to generate negotiation tips, write a personal negotiation checklist, or prepare real salary research for their desired STEM role.

The Activity focuses on practising negotiation for salary or career growth. AI could be used to test any kind of conversation. Teachers can use AI chat generators such as ChatGPT, or Grok, Claude, Gemini. Specifically, an AI platform was trained to act as a Human Resource Manager.

1. Introduction & Context (15-20 min) • The teacher introduces the importance of negotiation, and negotiation in STEM careers. Moreover, they should focus on stereotypes and biases in negotiation and career development. • Share quick examples of salary gaps and negotiation failures and success stories. • Begin with a short video on why salary negotiation matters—include gender gaps in tech salaries (i.e. Women Don’t Negotiate and Other Similar Nonsense | Andrea Schneider | TEDxOshkosh )

Beyond technical expertise, success in the gaming industry also depends on soft skills such as communication, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability. This final section explores how these skills can be cultivated from the very beginning and reinforced throughout one’s career. By mastering soft skills, individuals are better equipped to collaborate, lead projects, and stand out in a competitive job market. We emphasize that technical skills open doors, but soft skills allow individuals to thrive and lead.

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

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TIPS

The reflection is recommended to be done by writing by hand, not digitally. Writing things down also gives the participant the time to think and draw.

Is there something in the environment that the participants can use to reflect? E.g. posters on the wall or something you have been using as part of the teaching. People often imprint memories on physical objects, so encourage the participants to have a look and walk around.

TIPS

Care about the management of the data shared within the Community: commonly decide what data is going to be shared, how and where it will be stored and, if it is the case, how it will be spread. Support autonomous groups with periodic meetings, where judgement has no space, but mutual support and constructive opinions are welcome (see also below, The Mad Sad Glad Retrospective

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

Challenges and Solutions in Education

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Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Links to insightful websites about Biases

Bias inside us, by Smithsonian Institution

Bias Mega Wheel

Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Kahneman

Bias and Fallacies clusters, by The School of Thought

TIPS

The first time the tool is used, it's helpful to dedicate some time to explore each role in depth, clarifying its functions and importance within a group, and inviting participants to provide practical examples.

At the end of a group activity where the tool has been used, it's beneficial to dedicate time to a retrospective. Ask each participant how they felt playing their role, what they enjoyed most, what they learned, and what they would like to improve in the future, to support greater awareness of soft skills.

For prolonged activities (e.g., a project work spread over several days), it's useful to let participants experience different roles by periodically proposing a new round of assignments.

TIPS

For Educators/Facilitators:

Provide a guided worksheet with the reflection questions to help participants structure their notes.
Create a shared document or forum (e.g., Padlet, Google Doc) where participants can post their insights and see others’ responses.

For Participants: Pause and rewind the podcasts to take detailed notes on roles that inspire you.

Adapt for Groups: If used in a workshop, allocate time for participants to discuss their findings in small groups after completing the activity. Accessibility: Ensure the video and podcasts have subtitles/transcripts for participants with hearing impairments. Offer a text summary of key roles from the video for quick reference. Follow-Up: Suggest joining communities like Women in Games to connect with professionals.

PART 1

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Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

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Challenges and Solutions in Education

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TIPS

TIPS for Teachers (and Students)

Prompting Tips

• Start clear: “Act like…” or “I want to practice…? • Ask for feedback: “What could I have done better?” • Use follow-ups: “Let’s try again, but I want to be more assertive.”• Be iterative: Rephrase or restart the prompt to improve results.

Classroom Management Tips

• Normalize discomfort: let students know that nervousness is part of the learning process. • Create small-group or individual options for privacy. • Support emotional reactions and validate feelings: salary talk can trigger imposter syndrome. • Empower with facts: share salary ranges and real failures and success stories of women negotiating in STEM.

Possible Solutions...

Leadership and Advocacy Training

These skills empower students to speak up, advocate for themselves, and support others in professional spaces.

WHAT TO DO

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Resilience Building

Incorporate opportunities to practice leadership roles in projects, teach negotiation skills, and provide training in advocacy.

WHY IT WORKS

Provide workshops or mentorship programs focused on overcoming setbacks, managing bias, and maintaining confidence in challenging situations.

WHY IT MATTERS?

WHAT TO DO

Highlight Real-World Case Studies

Resilience helps students adapt to difficulties and continue progressing in their careers.

Share examples of how professionals have addressed bias or worked to change company culture in game studios.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Case studies connect classroom learning to real-world applications and inspire students to see themselves as agents of change.

WHY IT WORKS

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

Possible Solutions...

Inclusive Classroom Practices

Use gender-neutral language, set clear expectations for respect, and actively address instances of bias or exclusion.

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

WHAT TO DO

Collaborative Learning

This creates a fair and respectful environment where all students feel valued and safe.

WHY IT WORKS

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage group projects that deliberately mix diverse teams and emphasize collaboration.

WHAT TO DO

Community Building

Support the creation of student groups, mentorship circles, or clubs focused on women and underrepresented voices in game development.

Working together breaks down stereotypes, builds empathy, and fosters mutual respect.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

These networks provide role models, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, which help students stay motivated and resilient.

WHY IT WORKS

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

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project n. 2023-1-SE01-KA220-VET-000155267

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

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HOW TO

Main Activity – The Game Creation Team (50 min) Step 1 – Home Teams (5 min)

Students sit in small teams (4–5 people). Each member will become the “expert” on one role.

Step 2 – Expert Teams (20 min)

Students move into “Expert Teams” by role:

Game Artist / Designer
Game Writer / Storyteller
Programmer / Developer
Sound Designer / Composer
Marketing & Community Manager

Each Expert Team gets a 1-page Role Card (available below) with:

Short description of the role
Real-world examples
A mini hands-on challenge, e.g.:

Artist → sketch a quick character or environment
Writer → invent a short quest or dialogue line
Programmer → map basic controls (up = jump, etc.)
Sound → choose a “mood” and list 3 real-life sounds that could fit (e.g. spooky forest, space battle)
Marketing → invent a short game slogan or social media post

Students complete the challenge on paper in their group.

Step 3 – Back to Home Teams (25 min)

Each student teaches their role to their Home Team.
As a group, they design a new game concept using all roles.
They use a simple Game Concept Canvas (A3 handout with 5 boxes: Story, Gameplay, Art/Visuals, Sound, Promotion).

Show & Reflect (15 min)

Pick 2–3 groups to pitch their game idea in 1 minute.
Reflection questions (whole class discussion):

“Which role did you enjoy most?”
“What surprised you about creating games?”
“How could games be used for good — education, culture, or solving problems?”

Students work in groups using the jigsaw method. Start with a short warm-up discussion on what jobs they think exist in the games industry, followed by a short One Minute Mentor (OMM) video created by Digital Schoolhouse. << watch all the videos here!

Students are then placed in “Home Teams” of 4–5, then move into “Expert Teams,” where each group focuses on one role: Game Artist/Designer, Game Writer, Programmer, Sound Designer, or Marketing Manager. Each Expert Team receives a one-page fact sheet with a role description, real-life examples, and a short hands-on task (e.g., sketching a character, writing a quest, mapping controls, brainstorming a soundtrack, inventing a slogan). After 20 minutes, students return to their Home Teams and share what they learned. Together, they create a new game concept using a simple “Game Concept Canvas” (template provided), combining story, gameplay, visuals, sound, and promotion. The session ends with short group presentations and a reflection on what they discovered about the industry and their own interests.

Warm-up & Ice breaker (10–15 min)

Quick poll: “When you think of jobs in the games industry, what comes to mind?” (facilitator writes answers on the board, usually “programmer” and “tester” dominate).
Video spark (2–3 mins): A short One Minute Mentor (OMM) video created by Digital Schoolhouse.
Surprise fact drop: Share 2–3 unexpected jobs (e.g. voice actor, narrative designer, esports manager).
This website can be used as a good resource:

MATERIALS

Coming soon ...

HOW TO

The time for reflection requires a quiet, calm environment. Materials needed are one A4 sheet of paper and a pen. Encourage the participants to find their own calm spot and e.g. have a cup of coffee and a snack. This is an individual exercise, but the reflections can be shared with others. So no discussion during the exercise about one’s growth. Instruct the participants to write the question “What am I learning on these levels/roles?” at the top of the page. Instruct them to divide the paper into three sections: Student, about myself, and industry professional.

• Student: What skills and knowledge have I learned as a student? How does this affect or help me going forward in my studies? • About myself: What have I discovered about myself? Are my personal goals or interests more clear now? • Industry professionals:What skills and knowledge have I gained as a (future) industry professional? How will these help me in my (future) career? If there is time and opportunity, the participants can share their insights in small groups or to the class. This will further help everyone to gain understanding of different points of views.

HOW TO

The Community Canvas is composed of 3 Sections (Identity, Experience, Structure), which in turn are divided into 17 Themes. This tool could be helpful for girls within a class or also in other social environments, such as activism groups, or goal oriented teams. Teachers may conduct the fulfillment of the Community Canvas using participatory methods that empower (girls) students toward autonomy, but it could also be supplied to girls and make them autonomously work on it, providing for recurring retrospective sessions. For teachers who want to conduct the activities (also valuable as tips for autonomous groups):

Divide students into collaborative groups, allowing them to co-create a community concept by exploring real needs, shared values, and common goals together.
Encourage storytelling and personal sharing to help girls connect emotionally with the community they are designing, fostering a sense of ownership and relevance.
Use guided inquiry and reflective questions to help students unpack each Section (Identity, Experience, Structure) rather than instructing directly—promoting critical and independent thinking.
Visualize ideas collectively using sticky notes, canvases, or digital tools, making the process dynamic and ensuring that every voice shapes the community vision.

Support iteration and feedback cycles, empowering students to refine their ideas through peer input and develop confidence in designing sustainable, meaningful communities.

PREPARATION

Section One: Identity The first part of the Canvas focuses on questions of belief. The Identity section itself is layered like an onion. At its core are two elements: the community’s purpose and the identity of its members. The questions why and who are quintessential and then inform the other elements of identity: the organization's values, its definition of success and its brand. An authentic culture is one of the most valuable elements of any community, but also a very abstract concept to act upon. The elements covered under Identity are key ingredients towards a thriving community culture. THEMES: Purpose: Why does the community exist? Member Identity: Who is the community for? Values: What is important to us as a community? How can we make this community a safe space? Success Definition: How does the community define success? Brand: How does the community express itself? How do we communicate our purpose and values to the outside?

Section Two: Experience In the second part of the Canvas we explore the community from the perspective of the members: what does actually happen in the community and how does it translate its purpose into activities that create tangible value for the members? A significant part of the Canvas is dedicated to two elements: Shared Experiences bring members together and fundamentally deepen the bonds among them. Rituals and traditions are individual and recurring experiences that have a strong symbolic character. The community’s content strategy contributes to the overall experience. Communities who tell the stories of their members and share relevant content strengthen the bond among members and increase the overall value. Every member is different and evolves over time. Smart communities provide different roles catering to different needs throughout the experience. Lastly, communities work best when they have clear rules set in advance, so people know what their rights and expected responsibilities are. THEMES:

Selection: How do people join the community?
Transition: How do members leave the community?
Shared Experiences: What experiences do members share?
Rituals: What rituals happen regularly? What kind of energy and support do they give to the community?
Content: What content creates value for members?
Rules: What are the community’s rules?
Roles: What roles can members play?

Section One: Identity

Section Two: Experience

Section Three: Structure The third part of the Canvas focuses on the operational elements of running a community. While many communities evolve organically over time, only few survive in the long-term. Organizational aspects are often neglected, and the necessary structures aren’t in place to deal with challenging situations, as they eventually and often suddenly come up. This area goes beyond good management and processes, but presents a tremendous opportunity: most communities become more valuable the longer they exist, as trust among the members increases. But consistency is key. Visionary communities will put structures in place that will optimize for long-term stability. Decision making is best clarified in advance and helps avoid and address conflicts, a surprisingly common sight within many communities. Most successful communities exist both in the offline and the online world, and the choice of the right platforms matter.

Section Three: Structure

Possible Solutions...

Inclusive Classroom Practices

Use gender-neutral language, set clear expectations for respect, and actively address instances of bias or exclusion.

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

WHAT TO DO

Collaborative Learning

This creates a fair and respectful environment where all students feel valued and safe.

WHY IT WORKS

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage group projects that deliberately mix diverse teams and emphasize collaboration.

WHAT TO DO

Community Building

Support the creation of student groups, mentorship circles, or clubs focused on women and underrepresented voices in game development.

Working together breaks down stereotypes, builds empathy, and fosters mutual respect.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

These networks provide role models, encouragement, and a sense of belonging, which help students stay motivated and resilient.

WHY IT WORKS

GOALS AND IMPACTS

Expose participants to the real-world diversity of careers in game development through firsthand stories from women in the industry.
Inspire curiosity about roles beyond programming, such as art, sound design, narrative, production, and marketing.
Encourage self-reflection on how participants’ skills and passions align with potential careers in game dev.

Impacts:

Participants will gain awareness of the wide range of opportunities in the industry.
They will identify roles that resonate with their interests and feel empowered to explore them further.

Challenges and Solutions in Education

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PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

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Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

TIPS

Time management: Some teams spend too long debating ideas. Suggest a simple structure: 10 min brainstorm → 20 min develop → 15 min finalize.
Theme flexibility: If teams are stuck, let them combine two Theme Prompt Cards to spark creativity.
Debrief is key: Soft skills are invisible unless reflected on. Always close by asking what each person learned about teamwork, communication, or themselves.
Adaptation: Can be used in youth clubs (fun & creative), schools (linked to teamwork in class projects), or camps (as a competitive but playful “mini-game jam”).

Perfect for schools, summer camps, or youth clubs. Promotes soft skills as equally important as technical ones, preparing youth for both creative and professional teamwork.
Focus on process, not product: The point is teamwork, not designing the next blockbuster game. Remind groups that messy sketches are totally fine.
Rotate roles: If you repeat the activity, switch roles so that shy students try being the presenter or timekeeper at least once.
Encourage quieter voices: Facilitator should circulate and ask quieter participants directly for input (“What’s your idea?”).

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Materials

Printed Role Cards (1 page each with fact + mini-activity)
Printed Game Concept Canvas (A3 or A4 handout)
Markers, blank paper, post-its
Projector / screen for video (optional)

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

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Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

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PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

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Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

TIPS

• When it comes to asking Debaters, care about gender balance. If 4 on 4 volunteers are male (their social education could reinforce their self confidence, respect female students), thank them but ask for at least 2 students with different gender. • Pay attention if any of the Debaters quote any scientific paper, or statistic, to legitimize their opinion. If they don’t, usually their sentences will be biased in various ways. When you ask Listeners if any of the Card was activated, underline who or who didn’t quote any statistic, to make them aware of the importance of being evidence-based. • During the debate, make sure that each of the Debaters is expressing their point of view. and that the time the talk is equal. • During the Check for Bias, tell the class that it is absolutely normal if a lot of Biases popped up, because it’s the way our brain evolved during the last hundreds of thousands years. They helped us to survive, but now, in our contemporary society, sometimes they could be misleading and counter-productive.

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Challenges and Solutions in Education

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TIPS

The most important part of creating a brave space is that everyone understands and agrees to the concept being used. Students should be encouraged to challenge the idea of brave space and why it is needed as a guideline for interaction in class.

HOW TO

Phases of Serious Game Design: 1. 📖 The Topic What is the purpose of the serious game? Is it to deepen knowledge - e.g. explore a historical event - or raise awareness - e.g. around climate change? Clarifying the game’s educational goal helps narrow the topic and gives direction to the next brainstorming phase. 2. 🤯 Brainstorming Participants work in small groups (ideally no more than 6 per group) to generate ideas. The aim of the brainstorming is to define: • the game environment (the narrative setting) • the goal (what a player must do to win) • the challenge (obstacles that make achieving the goal engaging). 3. ⚙️ Prototyping Using simple materials (paper, markers, post-its, etc.), students build the first version of their game. At this stage they clarify: • the mechanics (actions players take to move the game forward) • the rules (what players can and cannot do) • the components (physical or visual elements needed to play).

4. 👁️‍🗨️ Testing Groups are paired and test each other’s games. Players observe how the game unfolds, take note of obstacles or unclear elements, and collect direct feedback from testers. 5. 🤔 Retrospective Based on direct observation and feedback, groups reflect on what needs to be improved - e.g. unclear rules, imbalanced difficulty, or confusing mechanics. 6. 🔄 Iteration Groups return to brainstorming, choosing one or two elements to improve and adjusting their prototype accordingly.

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

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Challenges and Solutions in Education

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Self-doubt erodes confidence and prevents students from developing resilience—the very qualities needed to innovate and succeed in competitive industries. Addressing this barrier is essential to creating an inclusive, supportive environment.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

WHY IT MATTERS?

Promote Positive Affirmations Encourage the use of affirmations and visualization techniques to counteract negative self-talk. Cognitive-behavioral research shows these practices can reshape thought patterns and build self-belief.

Showcase Role Models Representation is powerful. Highlight the success stories of women and gender-diverse developers to demonstrate that the industry welcomes diverse voices and talents.

Possible Solutions...

Create Supportive Peer Networks Peer groups and mentorship circles can provide encouragement, reduce feelings of isolation, and build a culture of collaboration and shared success.

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

Family approval and encouragement play a crucial role in shaping career choices. When families misunderstand the industry, their doubts can prevent talented individuals from entering the field.

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

WHY IT MATTERS?

Possible Solutions...

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

SOFT SKILLS

Possible Solutions...

Overcoming Workplace Challenges

Professional Development and Leadership Opportunities

Self-Advocacy and Confidence-Building

Allyship and Peer Support

Bias Awareness Training for Organizations

WHY IT MATTERS?

Encourage assertive communication, goal-setting, and recognition of personal value in the workplace. Confidence and clarity help individuals push back against bias and advocate for fair treatment.

WHAT TO DO

WHY IT WORKS

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

WHY IT MATTERS?

Showcase Role Models Representation is powerful. Highlight the success stories of women and gender-diverse developers to demonstrate that the industry welcomes diverse voices and talents.

Possible Solutions...

Create Supportive Peer Networks Peer groups and mentorship circles can provide encouragement, reduce feelings of isolation, and build a culture of collaboration and shared success.

MATERIALS

Printed Role Cards. Printed Theme Prompt Cards. Flipchart paper/A3 sheets. Sticky notes, markers, scissors, tape. Optional: dice, coins, game tokens.

4. Role: Presenter Your Mission: Pitch your game idea to the group. Superpower: Public Speaking & Charisma. 5. Role: Timekeeper Your Mission: Keep the team on schedule. Superpower: Organization & Focus. 6. Role: Wild Card Your Mission: Support any role as needed. Superpower: Adaptability!

1. Role: Designer Your Mission: Focus on visuals, characters, or maps. Superpower: Creativity & Visual Thinking. 2. Role: Writer Your Mission: Create the story, characters, and dialogue. Superpower: Imagination & Words. 3. Role: Artist Your Mission: Make sketches, posters, or icons. Superpower: Drawing & Visual Design.

THEME ROLE CARDS

THEME PROMPT CARDS 1. Save the Planet 🌍 2. Dream Worlds ✨ 3. Future Cities 🏙️ 4. Friendship & Trust 🤝 5. Mystery in Space 🚀 6. Heroes & Villains 🦸 7. Time Travel ⏳ 8. Hidden Worlds 🌌

ACTIVITIES for part 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

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Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

WHY IT MATTERS?

Showcase Role Models Representation is powerful. Highlight the success stories of women and gender-diverse developers to demonstrate that the industry welcomes diverse voices and talents.

Possible Solutions...

Create Supportive Peer Networks Peer groups and mentorship circles can provide encouragement, reduce feelings of isolation, and build a culture of collaboration and shared success.

Nu Gamers Handbook

Start designing with a free template

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Essential Business Proposal

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Project Roadmap Timeline

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Step-by-Step Timeline: How to Develop an Idea

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Artificial Intelligence History Timeline

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Mind Map: The 4 Pillars of Success

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Big Data: The Data That Drives the World

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Momentum: Onboarding Presentation

Transcript

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Handbook

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

Introduction

Activities

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

ACTIVITIES

SOFT SKILLS

Understand and face the challenges

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

CHALLENGES:

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Overcoming Family Concerns About Career Stability

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Societal Expectations

Raising Awareness of Career Opportunities in the Games Industry

CHALLENGES

Continue to the ACTIVITIES

PART 1 - ACTIVITIES

Engaging Girls in Game Development

Engaging Girls in Game Development

ACTIVITIES for part 1

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3

Job Seeking and Empowering Girls to Compete in the Game Industry job Market

SOFT SKILLS

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

CHALLENGES:

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Preparing Students to Navigate and Transform Workplace Culture

Creating Inclusive and Supportive Learning Environments

CHALLENGES

Continue to the ACTIVITIES

PART 2: ACTIVITIES

Challenges and Solutions in Education

Challenges and Solutions in Education

ACTIVITIES for part 2

PART 2

Challenges and Solutions in Education

PART 1

Engaging Girls in Game Development

PART 3