Game Design At Sheffield College For The Over 40s?

[XPertByExperien]

Above.

 

I contacted Peaks Centre towards the end of last year, and they literally told me that at 46 I'm "too old" for a course full of 16/17 year olds with aspirations to become the next Phil Spencer (Xbox boss) or such like.

 

All I want to do is learn how to make my own games as a "hobbyist" route, due to personal circumstances I could no more work full time than put on a rather large Batman cape and fly! (And no, I have no plans to link to photos from yesterday on here)

 

I'm signed up to courses on Zenva.com and Coursera.org, but if possible I'd like to do a classroom based, in person course to learn game design.

 

Can anyone suggest anything?

 

I am aware of Google.

 

 

[Anna B]

1 minute ago, XPertByExperien said:

Above.

 

I contacted Peaks Centre towards the end of last year, and they literally told me that at 46 I'm "too old" for a course full of 16/17 year olds with aspirations to become the next Phil Spencer (Xbox boss) or such like.

 

All I want to do is learn how to make my own games as a "hobbyist" route, due to personal circumstances I could no more work full time than put on a rather large Batman cape and fly! (And no, I have no plans to link to photos from yesterday on here)

 

I'm signed up to courses on Zenva.com and Coursera.org, but if possible I'd like to do a classroom based, in person course to learn game design.

 

Can anyone suggest anything?

 

I am aware of Google.

 

 

Sadly, we're all living longer, but 40 is now considered old and past it in many circles. 

I'd play the 'discrimination' card and see if you can get accepted that way. 

[The_DADDY]

1 minute ago, Anna B said:

Sadly, we're all living longer, but 40 is now considered old and past it in many circles. 

I'd play the 'discrimination' card and see if you can get accepted that way. 

This ⬆️

And if that fails tell them you Identify as a school leaver 👍

[XPertByExperien]

2 minutes ago, Anna B said:

Sadly, we're all living longer, but 40 is now considered old and past it in many circles. 

I'd play the 'discrimination' card and see if you can get accepted that way. 

Normally I would, and have done in the past regarding jobs and stuff, however I've been saying for most of the last nearly 13 years that the Equality Act 2010 ain't worth the paper it's printed on because the government don't, and probably never will, enforce it.

 

1 minute ago, The_DADDY said:

This ⬆️

And if that fails tell them you Identify as a school leaver 👍

That wouldn't work, I'm significantly over 25 and look it.

 

But thanks anyway.

 

[iansheff]

There should be no age discrimination in wanting to learn. In the late 90's I went to Northern College taking a lot of various courses, there were several people of retirement taking the courses, especially the IT ones.

[The_DADDY]

6 minutes ago, iansheff said:

There should be no age discrimination in wanting to learn. In the late 90's I went to Northern College taking a lot of various courses, there were several people of retirement taking the courses, especially the IT ones.

Loxley College too. I worked there in the 90s and there were plenty of mature students. 

[XPertByExperien]

4 minutes ago, The_DADDY said:

Loxley College too. I worked there in the 90s and there were plenty of mature students. 

Yep, from September 1995 to July 1997 I was on the NVQ Retail course at Loxley, and even then at the age of 19 when I first started, I was the second eldest on the course.

 

At the time I actually wanted to do an IT course, but for some reason I got shoved onto the retail course, although to be fair I did achieve 2 NVQs from it plus 2 work placements.

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by XPertByExperien
More detail

[Anna B]

If you haven't already, I'd try Northern College. They are very supportive of students and those wanting to be students. If they can't help they might be able to point you in the right direction, or take up the 'Discrimination' argument with you.

14 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

Yep, from September 1995 to July 1997 I was on the NVQ Retail course at Loxley, and even then at the age of 19 when I first started, I was the second eldest on the course.

 

At the time I actually wanted to do an IT course, but for some reason I got shoved onto the retail course, although to be fair I did achieve 2 NVQs from it plus 2 work placements.

 

 

 

And stick to your guns...

Edited February 20, 2023 by Anna B

[XPertByExperien]

14 minutes ago, Anna B said:

If you haven't already, I'd try Northern College. They are very supportive of students and those wanting to be students. If they can't help they might be able to point you in the right direction, or take up the 'Discrimination' argument with you.

And stick to your guns...

A few years back I did contact Northern College, at the time I was mid to late 30s and even they said I was "too old" (eh? Surely this level of ageism should be HIGHLY illegal?!)

 

@The_DADDY Loxley College was sadly demolished years ago, and what was formerly the Wood Lane Centre is now Forge Valley school, and the former Centre on Myers Grove Lane's now a Housing estate, and all the courses that used to run from Loxley were moved to what was then the brand new Hillsborough campus (behind Owlerton dog track)

 

I've been to several "Open Days" down there, and even they told me that at my age I'm "too old" to even be a "mature student" in a world full of 16/17 year olds with 5000 GCSEs to their name!  

 

 

 

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by XPertByExperien
More detail and a small rant

[Mister M]

18 minutes ago, XPertByExperien said:

A few years back I did contact Northern College, at the time I was mid to late 30s and even they said I was "too old" (eh? Surely this level of ageism should be HIGHLY illegal?!)

 

@The_DADDY Loxley College was sadly demolished years ago, and what was formerly the Wood Lane Centre is now Forge Valley school, and the former Centre on Myers Grove Lane's now a Housing estate, and all the courses that used to run from Loxley were moved to what was then the brand new Hillsborough campus (behind Owlerton dog track)

 

I've been to several "Open Days" down there, and even they told me that at my age I'm "too old" to even be a "mature student" in a world full of 16/17 year olds with 5000 GCSEs to their name!  

 

 

 

 

That's strange, because about 5 years ago I knew a couple of people who were doing a Level 4 (diploma level) IT course at City, and they were in their 40s.

Unless it's a funding thing, because the student's I know had taken out a student loan to do their course. I think funding nowadays is very much geared towards the 16 - 19 age group. Which stinks because people change careers, get a job straight after leaving school, or only find out what they want to do later in life. I guess people who make decisions think everyone is like them, and know what they want to do after they have left school.

I'd double check with Sheffield Careers Office, which is open to adults because I used it nearly 10 years ago.  Give them a call, and they can arrange to have an interview with you to look at your options.

Distance learning courses are definitely worth a try though.

Edited February 20, 2023 by Mister M