​As I started my research the Nesta report seemed to support some of the ideas I had had whist teaching in further education. The students in the Art Department, who moved towards digital arts formats, were those with lesser or no strong art technique skills, as assessed for a L3 vocational qualification. But this mixture of digital and drawing/art skills were the skills that the NESTA report identifies as important​

 

​Next Gen. Report

​This is a review by Ian Livingstone and Alex Hope about the future of high tech media industries in the UK, such as video games and the visual effects industries. This review is needed, important succinct and pin points the way forward. It also directly relates to my studies as a lecturer and researcher working towards modelling new ideas for teaching in art and media. What I found very interesting was that the review draws a strong link between computer science and art. It talks of the need for education to understand the needs of industry and to train people to enable them to work in the industry. As Livingstone says; The skills needed to produce such varied content are, however, linked by the common denominators of computer science, maths, physics and art. As Alex Hope goes on to explain in more detail; Once you’ve created the tool in the computer to light the water realistically, you still need the flair of the cinematographer or painter to make it look great. At every turn the VFX artist is combining maths, physics, computer science and art to create.

This is the propaganda of need for the industry and also seems to fit my manifesto for the way forward in my work. They keep returning to the theme that without the creative component which needs computer literate artists, animators, storytellers and designers there is technology without creative content. As Livingstone says, the schools have taught ICT as office skills which does not inspire the continuation of studies. Alex Hope suggests that the push for pupils to choose between science and art is also having a negative effect on creating the skills needed. The government response to this report has however missed this point on several occasions not agreeing with the need for a strong link between STEM subjects and art, somehow they just do not get it. However any move forward is a good move forward and the change from the office based ICT, that even art students have to take, to a more functional and programming based ICT will be a good progression.

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​Government response to the Next Gen. Report​

As the Next Gen. report listed twenty recommendations so the government tried to respond to each of these. The first, and perhaps the most important for change, was that the government recognized the need for reform of the current teaching of ICT in schools. This will become part of the review of the National Curriculum. Within this review consideration will be given to teaching Computer Science within ICT. This will also be reflected in the need to review the IT GCSE. They also saw the development of such projects as the Raspberry Pi computer project as an important step towards developing programming experience.

The government response also said they were making positive steps towards looking at teaching programs online. Recommendation 5, by the new generation report was to include art and computer science. Recommendation 6 was to encourage art-tech crossover does not seem to be as positive for the government as for industry. The government report makes reference to website design and robotic design but the Next Gen. report felt that Fine Art also has an important part to play in the development of next generation skills. The Next Gen. report suggests STEM (The Science, Technology, Engineering,and Mathematics (STEM) Education Coalition) ambassadors encourage schools and learners into contemporary video games and Special FX technology. The government supports this and the development of competitions and careers strategy although they seem unwilling to put any money into development in this area. Again when Next Gen.  recommends: Raise awareness of the video games and visual effects industries in the eyes of STEM and art graduates, the government seems unable to see the importance of creative and developmental skills of art students in the STEM program.

There seems to be a complete lack of understanding in the government response to the vital importance of the integration of art education into the whole program. It was clearly stated in the Next Gen. report , that artists with an understanding and ability to work in a computer environment was vital for the development of the games and special effects industry. The response of the government was to talk about skills in Maths and Science. It is a total misunderstanding of such a vital industry to think that the science , maths side is important any old bit of art and design will do to make a million pound game.