AMD and Learning Games Network have announced the winners in the A-HA Moment video contest, a competition in which students demonstrated gaming's role in education.
The competition invited middle school, high school, and post-secondary school students to submit short videos in two categories. "A-HA Moment" category competitors explained how video games reinforced a prior learning concept, while the "My Dream Assignment" category challenged students to argue why a specific game title should be considered "required playing" for a class at school.
West Dundee, IL student Ed Domich won the "My Dream Assignment" contest in the post-secondary category. Pindi Albert from State College, PA won among competing high school students.
Cameron Park, CA middle school student Zoe Brouns and Voorhees, NJ high school student Zach Law earned top prizes in the "A-HA Moment" competition. William Brady from Alexandria, VA won the "A-HA Moment" People's Choice award.
"As we identify examples of how students use games for more than entertainment, we were impressed by the creativity, passion, and insight that contest participants demonstrated," said Learning Games Network director of program and business development Andrew Blanco. "It's important for parents and teachers to recognize the learning potential that active play in games can inspire in students."
"Through their videos, the contestants demonstrated how gaming and game development can enhance education, especially in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math," said AMD Foundation president Allyson Peerman. "Inspiring youth to learn through social issue game development is the mission behind AMD Changing the Game, and these contest winners represent this new breed of learners."
All contest winners in each age group received a 16-inch HP Pavillion dv6 series notebook computer. Winning entries may be viewed at the Learning Games Network's
YouTube channel.
