EGGS - L'inglese attraverso degli scenari basati sui giochi e sul gender

EGGS aims at the development of a game-based online learning environment for English, articulated in independent and reusable units.Each online unit corresponds to the didactic modules of a classroom-based intermediate level English course, and is targeted to students studying for Bachelor degrees in the various cycles of Universities of Applied Sciences and universities. The main goal of the course is to allow students who already possess basic linguistic skills to reach level B2 of the European Languages Portfolio.
The specific features of the project are the use of a didactic strategy based on narrative and role-playing and the attention to gender-related issues, which make EGGS online units an original and valuable support. EGGS will in fact develop 6 units, in which students will perform specific tasks within a story-based game (e.g., a thriller) which require the development of specific language skills (grammar, vocabulary, etc.), so to enhance situated and task-oriented learning. The units will be framed within a blended learning structure, in which 75 percent will be distance work monitored by a tutor and 25 percent reserved to the time spent in class.
The SUPSI "Lingue e mobilità" will provide the necessary competences for English teaching. Together with the gender commission and the Fachhochschule Solothurn Nordwestschweiz will elaborate the on-line games roles and provide the gender-didactics. SUPSI will be supported in the production of the game-based environment by the specialists of the Hochschule für Gestaltung und Kunst Luzern (HGKL) for narrative scripting, digital animation, and interaction design. The USI-SUPSI eLab will provide the technological competence to implement the elearning tools including Moodle and media production facilities.
The partners foresee that the course will be used by about 700 students a year. Intermediate English level is also a topic for many courses in Swiss universities and UAS, so that it is likely that the number of students will increase once the course is available.