What is the Game Changer Challenge?

The Game Changer Challenge is the department’s award-winning design thinking competition.

Open to public schools across the state the challenge centres on discovering solutions for a real-world, wicked problem by applying classroom learning.

What is design thinking?

Design thinking is a human-centred process to solving complex problems. Empathy and collaboration are at the heart of design thinking.

The five-step process starts by encouraging problem solvers to walk in the shoes of those experiencing the 'problem' to gain a deeper insight into the challenges and issues they face (empathy).

This knowledge is then used to develop a clear problem statement (define), work on solutions (ideate), turn these solutions into tangible products (prototype) and then see whether the solution will work (test).

Design thinking is not a linear process. With each stage you make new discoveries that require you to rethink and redefine what you have already done.

Design thinking brings our head, heart and hands together to find innovative solutions to complex problems.

This process can be used over and over again, for small or complex problems.

A guide to Game Changer Challenge 2023

Step 1: Enter your school

Entries for the Game Changer Challenge 2023 have now closed.

Step 2: Build your team

Teams consist of five students and one teacher per team. Supervising teachers can be from any subject area. The primary category is for students from Years 3 to 6, the secondary category is for students from Years 7 to 12.

Schools can have more than one team, providing each student team member is different. One teacher can oversee multiple teams.

Step 3: Work through the playbooks and prepare your video

Playbook resources are available on our GCC2023 Teacher Hub and guide teams through the first stages of the challenge.

Email us if you don't have access to the GCC teacher hub.

The playbooks will guide teachers and students through:

• The 2023 Wicked Problem
• GCC 2023 framework and principles
• GCC 2023 schedule
• Teacher Hub, video resources and playbooks
• The design thinking canvases.

All teams will be required to prepare a video application after working through the playbooks at school.

Step 4: Submit your video application

Video submissions closed on Friday 26 May 2023.

Step 5: Virtual semifinals

Semifinalist teams will be announced in Week 9, Term 2 and will take part in our virtual semifinals held across Weeks 6 and 7 in Term 3.

Step 6: Grand final

Teams successful in the virtual semifinals will take part in a three-day grand final event in Week 5, Term 4 hosted at the department's Parramatta office.

Video: Teachers share their GCC experience

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