Implications of a Multidisciplinary Students’ Computer Game Design Project

Abstract

In the current globalized economy, human resources needs of both the industry and society are much focused on an individual’s multidisciplinary competency. This is to say that, employers look for people that can perform and work positively with people of various background disciplines. To test whether students are ready for such, this case study summarizes the findings of a year-long multidisciplinary computer game design project between the Multi-media Game Science (MGS) and the Applied Foreign Languages (AFL) departments’ students of a science and technology university in Taiwan. A total of 10 (3 - AFL and 7 - MGS) local students and 3 Dutch MGS students participated in the study. Qualitative focus group interviews, students’ reflection, and researcher’s observations logs were gathered in the yearlong study. Data analysis includes the generation of meaning from reoccurring themes from the interviews and logs. Results indicate that AFL students improved on various English language communication and other employability skills needed in the industry. In addition, results also show that for a multidisciplinary computer game design project to become successful the school administration should provide clear guidelines and conduct periodic dialogues with student participants to clear up issues and avoid misunderstanding. Lastly, other implications and recommendations are provided for future practitioners and researchers in the same field of inquiry.