Where does it fit?
High School CTE Course
Game Design Fundamentals is an introductory high school course that fits into the career clusters Arts, Media & Entertainment and Information Technology.
Middle School
Minecraft Education Courses
High School
Esports Electives
Game Design Pathway
Media Production Pathway
Digital Technology Pathway
Course Outline
Exploring the foundational skills in Game Design using Unreal Engine.
8 Units
90 Lessons
Available in English and Spanish
Unit 1 · 7 Lessons
Intro to Game Design
Students are introduced to the world of Game Design by exploring popular game design tools, career opportunities, intellectual property rights, and the game development life cycle. They learn key terminology and basic navigation in Unreal Engine and set up online portfolios that they fill with content throughout the course.
Objectives
Explore popular tools for Game Design
Understand the Game Development Life Cycle
Identify key terminology and game genres
Learn the basics of navigating in Unreal Engine
Set up online portfolio
1
2
Unit 2 · 13 Lessons
Build a Rube Goldberg Machine
Students learn about simple machines such as inclined planes, levers, pulleys, and screws while building Rube Goldberg Machines in Unreal Engine. They sketch, build, and iteratively improve their machines, practicing the fundamental engine tools. The final submission of the unit is a video showcasing their completed Rube Goldberg machines.
Objectives
Build 3D scenes using provided assets
Apply physics simulations
Integrate simple machines
Create particle and sound effects
Record a video of the final Rube Goldberg Machine
3
Unit 3 · 9 Lessons
Analyze Games
Students explore what makes a video game stand out in a competitive gaming industry. They learn how to evaluate key elements such as gameplay mechanics, storytelling, aesthetics, and community engagement to understand what drives a game's success or failure. Students read professional game reviews and write their own review of a game of their choosing.
Objectives
Analyze professional game reviews
Identify engaging rules of games
Understand player immersion techniques
Explore what makes a game successful
Write a game review
4
Unit 4 · 9 Lessons
Create 3D Game
Starting from a template, students build their first playable level of a 3D game. They learn the basics of level design, playtesting, animation sequences, blueprint scripting, and much more, while adding checkpoints, jump boosts, coins, and keys to their world. UI elements are added to provide the player with relevant feedback at the right time.
Objectives
Set up a 3D game from a template
Add static and moving objects to build level 1
Build pickups like coins, keys and jump boosts
Examine Blueprint Scripts to understand the underlying mechanics
Implement UI elements like counters and indicators
5
Unit 5 · 10 Lessons
World Building
Design a large and detailed world using Unreal Engine features such as landscape sculpting, landscape painting, and foliage painting. Students build a level 2 to their game and learn more about advanced features like Nanite and Lumen, and how to import custom assets to create an immersive experience for the player.
Objectives
Set up an empty level 2
Design the layout of the level
Sculpt and paint the landscape
Add vegetation, buildings and props
Customize lighting to create a unique world
6
Unit 6 · 8 Lessons
Challenges
Add challenging mini-games to the second level and spice it up with particle and sound effects. Students implement game mechanics such as moving objects, timed gates, item spawners, and turrets while learning how to create custom 3D models, use particle and sound effects, and fine-tune the difficulty to keep gameplay balanced and exciting.
Objectives
Add room for challenges throughout level 2
Incorporate dangerous objects
Implement actor spawners
Build shooting turrets
Create particle and sound effects
7
Unit 7 · 10 Lessons
UI and Cutscenes
Add menus and cutscenes to polish the game. Students learn UI design and add menus where players can control the game flow and switch levels. Custom cutscenes are created to introduce each level and specific scenarios in the levels. Students add music and voiceovers to create an immersive experience.
Objectives
Implement start and pause menus
Add background music
Record voiceovers and sound effects
Create cutscenes to introduce levels and challenges
Capstone Project · 8 Lessons
Career Preparation
Students finalize their portfolios and get guidance on presenting their work professionally for college applications or career opportunities. They also prepare for the Unreal Engine 3D Fundamentals certification exam, which they can take after completing the course. Students reflect on their experiences during the course and set goals for what’s next.
Objectives
Finalize digital portfolio
Add course experience to a CV
Prepare for Unreal Engine 3D Fundamentals Certification exam
Reflect on course outcomes and career goals
8
Professional Development
Integrate Game Design into the classroom
District wide course launch
Full lesson plans and teacher instructions
Set up IT infrastructure needed for Unreal Engine
Access to Educators Community
Free Guides and Resources
Working with thousands of schools to integrate esports into curriculum and after-school activities, we have some best practices to share.
Guide to Grants and Funds for Esports Programs
11 minute read
Esports programs are gaining eligibility for educational funding as they align with key educational goals like student engagement, reducing absenteeism, career prep, and problem-solving skills. Funding options vary, from federal and state grants to private sources, each with specific requirements. Esports plays a pivotal role in addressing focuses of the department of education goals, like equity gaps, mental health, and diversity. It offers inclusive, cost-effective, and engaging solutions, especially for underserved communities, and provide career opportunities in the growing esports industry. Various funds like Title I, II, III, IV, IDEA, and ESSER are available for supporting esports in schools, each targeting different aspects of educational enhancement. This blog delves into how esports can be a versatile tool in education and explores diverse funding avenues to support these innovative programs. To get help with funding, please schedule a call with us for free, and let us help you!
Reducing Chronic Absenteeism with Esports Driven Curriculums
7 minute read
Chronic absenteeism remains a major issue, driven by factors like bullying, disengagement, and lack of career connections. Esports-driven curriculums offer a solution by engaging students through their passions, improving attendance, fostering teamwork, and overlaps with CTE pathways to build career-ready skills. Schools with esports programs report higher attendance and fewer disciplinary issues. Gameplan supports this effort with tools to track attendance, engagement, and progress, providing actionable insights to help schools address absenteeism effectively.
First Steps to Starting an Esports Program: Madison Junior High’s Success Story
4 minute read
Madison Junior High’s Esports program, led by Justin Davis and supported by Gameplan, has increased student engagement and academic performance. Initially met with skepticism, the program overcame challenges like logistical issues and parental concerns. Through clear communication, strategic planning, and the use of Gameplan’s engaging platform, the school saw improvements in attendance, disciplinary actions, and student collaboration. The success has sparked interest in expanding the program to other schools, offering more teachers professional development opportunities.
Why High School Students Should Learn About Cybersecurity
5 minute read
Cyber threats are everywhere, and students are at risk. Cybersecurity education teaches online safety, and responsible digital behavior, and prepares students for high-demand careers. With 457,398 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S., students can explore foundational roles in networking, IT, and cybercrime analysis. Our standards-aligned cybersecurity curriculum equips students with skills to stay safe and gain industry credentials. Learn more in our free webinar and 30-minute demo.
