EduShare - Game programming and documentation

EduShare is a platform that provides students and their support systems with the fundamental skills, tools, and resources necessary for classroom success.

Through the Level UP remote internship program, the founder of EduShare, Chris Ujimoto, partnered with Jonah Griffin to conduct game programming and prototype documentation. 

A student at Ontario Tech University, Jonah, worked on multiple programming projects for EduShare. “The scope of each project revolved around a different aspect of the overall game prototype we were trying to create.”

Specifically, each project focused on an aspect of a Game Design Document. “This is where we laid out all the plans and design features of the game. We had programming projects such as networking, menus, combat prototype, enemy AI, and polish of our final prototype,” shared Jonah. 

These projects were great hands-on experiences for Jonah and helped him visualize what his future could look like. “I believe that the projects helped me dip my toes into the game development industry and better understand how a real-world team would be structured and the workflow that would be taken. This project gave me a better sense of whether I would enjoy working as a game programmer and gave me real work experience that has helped me land jobs.”

As a teacher, Chris has always believed in creating valuable learning experiences for his students and interns. “It can't just be theoretical.  We want to make sure that the students can use their skills and that the students can see that they're making a difference.” This philosophy is why Jonah’s time with EduShare was so great.  

The hands-on experience was valuable, and Chris also believed in giving students room to think about their projects. “So every time I've created a project for Level UP students, there's always a lot of room to make the project their own. Giving students a voice and the ability to make a difference in my business gives them a boost of confidence that can make a difference for them.” 

Jonah felt the difference. This experience has been a good preparation for him. “I have definitely seen an increase in interest towards my game development background due to having work experience creating games, and it has prepared me better for working in a team and communicating with co-workers.”  

Chris went above and beyond to ensure students like Jonah were ready to work in the business world. But caring more than most was a great strategy. “For students, working with an employer who cares about them and their development can be an amazing experience, 100%.” 

It was a win-win for everyone involved. Chris is grateful for the Level UP help. “This is beneficial to small employers such as myself. Everything I've done so far would've taken years before I could achieve these goals. So, as a sole founder, it's been fantastic. It's been great working with Level UP and Riipen.”

Jonah felt the impact of Level UP on his education and career and wants others to experience this as well. “I think this way of learning helps students get a feel for what it is like working in a real environment with real co-workers and a real manager. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who can find a project in their field of interest.”

Thank you to Jonah Griffin for sharing his experience on Riipen. To learn more about how you can get started with the Level UP remote internship program as a student or employer, visit the website here. ‍Stay updated with the latest in higher education, experiential learning, and the future of work, and subscribe to our bi-weekly newsletter, The Riipen Report.

Riipen Level UP program is funded by the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning (I-WIL) Initiatives program. The opinions and interpretations in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.

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