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Mahuki. Innovation powered by Te Papa
Tomorrow’s world is in need of more computer programmers, innovators, engineers, and artists than ever before. Right now, preparation for this new world is scarce. This is a massive concern for us.
Currently, over 75,000 kids go through Te Papa each year. That is a lot of beautiful young minds that we can have a positive impact on.
Mahuki is going to help us do just that.
Mahuki, the innovation accelerator of Te Papa, is a structured in-residence entrepreneurial programme where teams will work on sustainable solutions for the transformation challenges facing cultural institutions globally.
The aims of Mahuki include helping New Zealand become world leaders in digital experiences and solutions for the culture and heritage sector, while facilitating relationships with entrepreneurs.
This is great for not only our wanting to connect with audiences associated with the cultural sector, but for the opportunities that arise from being situated in the back of house of Te Papa itself.
Currently we’re half way through the programme. Content, workshops, and speakers have slowed down and we’re headed into a build stage. We’re making great progress, and can’t wait for our audiences to start seeing the results that are emerging from our time at Mahuki.
Make sure to keep up to date with our blog, we have more posts coming soon.
Or visit our Facebook page to stay up to date with our product, Gamefroot.
Contact Us
Thanks for checking us out. If you’d like to get in touch, please call us about your project. We’d love to hear your ideas.
Phone numbers:
Dan Milward CEO
Reception: +64 4 385 8082
Business: +64 21 449901
Street address:
Level 3, West Block
Education House
178-182 Willis Street
Wellington
Postal address:
Gamelab
PO Box 12519
Thorndon
Wellington 6144
Games for Social Good
Our friends at New Zealand Transport Authority just published this newsletter on their Game Design Competition for Years 7-13. As you can see in this small teaser both myself and my esteemed colleague Rachel Bolstad from NZCER were asked to contribute some thoughts.
Bronwyn Stuckey
Bronwyn has extensive experience in the design of games for learning. She is a consultant and researcher who has lead innovation in the educational use of Minecraft and the Quest Atlantis virtual world.
Who we are
The Gamelab team is a collaboration between game developers and educators who share a fascination for expanding the ways people make and use games. Our secret power is to take the best practices from the game design industry and couple it with innovative learning practice.
Gamelab takes advice from educators seriously. We consult with a panel of advisors to ensure that our work aligns with the best knowledge about curriculum, teaching and learning. That way, our services are fit for purpose and deliver what teachers really need to support their work.
Our People
Dan Milward
CEO and Founder of GamelabDan is the founder and CEO of Gamelab, and his goal in life is to make game creation accessible to everyone, including learners and teachers with no prior knowledge of coding and game design. He has run game creation and design workshops for kids and adults and recently partnered with Public Libraries of New Zealand to bring game coding workshops to communities in seven New Zealand regions.
William Young
Strategic AdvisorWilliams advice ensures Gamelab can provide agile and creative services that exceed expectations. He has expertise in enabling high growth companies to become better. Strengths include innovative ideas backed by analysis, leading change and managing continuous improvement.
Trevor Dickinson
Director & Founding ShareholderTrevor is a director and investor in technology companies with high growth potential. He has extensive business leadership experience. Thanks to Trevor’s insights, the Gamelab team makes smart use of our expertise to better help game designers, educators and young people.
Educational Advisors
Bronwyn Stuckey
AdvisorBronwyn has extensive experience in the design of games for learning. She is a consultant and researcher who has lead innovation in the educational use of Minecraft and the Quest Atlantis virtual world.
Marianne Malmstrom
Educational Technology ConsultantMarianne is an internationally recognised leader in the use of digital games, virtual environments and multimedia to support innovative student-centred learning.
Game development and Javascript programming
The Gamelab development team is available to help with your project. We take on bespoke game development projects that complement our mission to transform learning through game development.
We are experts in Javascript programming and game design.
Recent projects
Curriculum For The Future
This is a fun digital game to start conversations about curriculum design and the future of learning. It was developed in partnership with NZCER.
Gamefroot Game Builder
Gamefroot is the online platform for kids to make, play and share their own digital games.
Gamefroot is the easy choice for schools, community groups or families seeking to switch on young people’s digital learning.
Our game-based learning activities are scalable and easy-access tutorials are there to support both teachers and students alike.
Gamefroot is suitable for learners from the younger years through high school.
Benefits
- Gamefroot is completely web-based so students can log in and make content anywhere on almost any device at any time.
- A drag and drop interface ensures ease of use, and helps students learn the fundamentals of coding, game-design as well as other STEAM subjects.
- Games can be published to the Google Chrome Web Store or Apple iTunes App Store – providing students with an authentic audience of players for their game projects.
- Gamefroot is based on Google technology, ensuring a stable, high quality platform.
Gamefroot supports digital literacy and STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering arts and math) plus the wider curriculum. Students can create games with context that expand their knowledge across almost all curriculum subjects.