https://anchor.fm/hitechpod/episodes/56--Game-Based-Learning-Series-Game-Away--Construct-3-e1ir5oc

This Week's App: Construct 3

What is Construct 3?

As we wrapped up our Game-Based Learning Series we couldn't help but introduce a game creation tool! Construct 3 is a 2D game creation tool, that allows you or your students to create awesome video games that can be played by anyone. You dont need to know how to do programming to do this either!

Construct is designed to let you pick out different environments, characters, game templates and game types to create a game. All you do is pick out what you want and then set rules for your games.

What can it be used for?

Construct can be used for several things, but here at HiTech we see two major uses:

1. Create Games for Learning - Construct gives you the chance to create custom games that you can use in your classes. For example I saw someone use the tool to create a music escape room. Students worked in groups to match audio recordings with the notes on measures. When they go them all they could move on to the next room. Imagine being able to take some lesson content and create your own game for your students to participate in or being able to build out a simulation in a game! Construct allows anyone to create a basic game for their students.
2. Have your students create games - While Construct is simple, it does use programming principles, allows for Javascript coding, allows people to create animations, and design a game. It can be a great tool if you want your students to practice any of those things you could easily do it by having them create a game through construct.

How do I get started?

Construct is a freemium tool (check out Episode 9 to learn about freemium), but they do have a free starter plan, so we encourage you to sign up for a free account first. You can use that free account to test how the tool works and get used to it yourself. We recommend doing the first tutorial they walk you through when you first log in, then if you need to learn more look at their Tutorials Page.

After you have played around a bit then it comes down to how you want to use it. If you want to create a game start to plan out what type of game you want to do. You can check out their Free Online Arcade that contains a bunch of games created by other people in Construct to get ideas.

If you want have your students do this we recommend deciding what you want them to create, make an example yourself, and then start laying out clear expectations.