Young Gamers Outside Education, Employment or Training: Translating Computer Gaming Skills to Job Relevant Competencies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ecgbl.18.1.2830

Keywords:

Digital Game, digital game-based learning, Employability Skills, employability

Abstract

9.5 per cent of people aged between 15 and 29 in Norway are ‘not in education, employment or training’ (NEET) (Statistisk sentralbyrå, 2022). NEET status is generally associated with several negative factors, such as lack of social mobility, poverty, negative socioeconomic status and persistent exclusion from education and work life (Wrigley, 2017). Work exclusion represents a significant challenge on both a macroeconomic level and for the individuals who experience work exclusion. The perspective of computer games as learning tools has resulted in an increased interest in how games can generate positive changes in the player (Gee, 2007; McGonigal, 2012). From the perspective of career guidance, it is central to look at whether the positive changes and the learning such change implies can be used to develop career competencies and skills that are attractive for the world of work. This paper reports on a project to develop, conduct, study and evaluate an occupational training program for 15 young gamers between the ages of 18 and 30 classified as NEET. The research question for the project is how participants in a work preparation course experience computer gaming as an arena for developing career competencies and skills and how these skills and competencies may contribute to the participants’ employability

Author Biographies

Øyvind Ibrahim Marøy Snipstad, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Øyvind Ibrahim Marøy Snipstad  is an Associate Professor in special education  at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. His research interests is primarily in topics related to disability, inclusion and marginalisation processes

Ingrid Bårdsdatter Bakke , Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Ingrid Bårdsdatter Bakke, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow and Associate professor working at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, in Lillehammer, Norway. Her research focuses on Norwegian and Nordic work culture and how it affects career guidance, career guidance and policy, integrated guidance and career guidance in the welfare system. She lectures and supervises students on the MSc in Career Guidance, and Further Education Counsellor Students on career theory, career guidance, national culture and organisational theory. 

Julie Sikin Bhanji Jynge, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Julie Sikin Bhanji Jynge is an Assistant Professor at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. In her research on career guidance, she is particularly interested in career learning for adults, integrated career guidance, policy development, and the management of career guidance services.

Håvard Vibeto , Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences

Håvard Vibeto is an associate professor at the Department of Game Education - The Game School, University College in Innlandet. He has a degree in film studies from Lillehammer University College and NTNU and has a doctorate in game studies from NTNU. He researches and teaches subjects related to videogames, VR and learning.

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Published

2024-10-07