Abstract:
Despite the proven success of using computer video games as a context for teaching introductory programming (CS1/2) courses, barriers including the lack of adoptable mate...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
Despite the proven success of using computer video games as a context for teaching introductory programming (CS1/2) courses, barriers including the lack of adoptable materials, required background expertise (in graphics/games), and institutional acceptance still prevent interested faculty members from experimenting with this approach. Game-themed programming assignment (GTA) modules are designed specifically for these faculty members. The GTA modules are independent, and each is a self-contained game-like programming assignment that challenges students on concepts pertaining to a specific curriculum topic area. A faculty member can selectively pick and choose a subset of GTA modules to experiment with and gradually adopt the materials in his or her own classes. Each GTA module also includes a step-by-step tutorial guide that supports and encourages interested faculty to develop their own expertise and game-themed materials. This paper begins with a survey of previous results. Based on this survey, the paper summarizes the important considerations when designing materials for selective adoption. The paper then describes the design, implementation, and assessment of the GTA modules. The results from ongoing GTA workshops for CS1/2 faculty members and from a yearlong project in adopting the GTA modules in classes are then presented. In this case, the collected results verified that introductory programming concepts can be examined, practiced, and learned by means of GTA modules when neither the faculty nor the students involved have backgrounds in graphics or games. More importantly, these results demonstrated that it is straightforward to blend the GTA modules into existing classes with minimum alterations. In these ways, the GTA modules are excellent catalysts enabling faculty to begin exploring and developing their own expertise and materials to teach with games.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Education ( Volume: 54, Issue: 3, August 2011)
Department of Computing and Software Systems, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Kelvin Sung received the B.E.E. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and 1992, respectively.
He was an Assistant Professor with the School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and a Software Architect with Alias—Wavefront (now part of Autodesk), Toronto, ON, Canada, where ...Show More
Kelvin Sung received the B.E.E. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and 1992, respectively.
He was an Assistant Professor with the School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and a Software Architect with Alias—Wavefront (now part of Autodesk), Toronto, ON, Canada, where ...View more
Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Cinnamon Hillyard received the Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Utah State University, Logan, in 1999.
She is an Assistant Professor with the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She also completed a post-doctorate position in mathematics with the University of Arizona, Tucson. Her scholarship focuses on undergraduate mathematics and science education, especially in the as...Show More
Cinnamon Hillyard received the Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Utah State University, Logan, in 1999.
She is an Assistant Professor with the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She also completed a post-doctorate position in mathematics with the University of Arizona, Tucson. Her scholarship focuses on undergraduate mathematics and science education, especially in the as...View more
Department of Education, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Robin Lynn Angotti received the B.S. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 2004.
She taught secondary mathematics at D. H. Conley High School, Greenville, NC, and remedial mathematics at North Carolina State University. She was the Assistant Director of the...Show More
Robin Lynn Angotti received the B.S. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 2004.
She taught secondary mathematics at D. H. Conley High School, Greenville, NC, and remedial mathematics at North Carolina State University. She was the Assistant Director of the...View more
Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA, USA
Michael W. Panitz received the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
He has worked with Microsoft in the. Net Common Language Runtime group and is currently a Senior Founding Faculty Member with Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA. He is currently interested in using innovative technologies and techniques to teach lower division computer program...Show More
Michael W. Panitz received the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
He has worked with Microsoft in the. Net Common Language Runtime group and is currently a Senior Founding Faculty Member with Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA. He is currently interested in using innovative technologies and techniques to teach lower division computer program...View more
Teaching and Learning Center, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
David S. Goldstein received the B.A. degree in English from the University of California, Riverside, in 1984; the M.A. degree in communication from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1985; the M.A. degree in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1988; and the Ph.D. degree in comparative culture from the University of California, Irvine, in 1997.
He edited career-guidance books for e...Show More
David S. Goldstein received the B.A. degree in English from the University of California, Riverside, in 1984; the M.A. degree in communication from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1985; the M.A. degree in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1988; and the Ph.D. degree in comparative culture from the University of California, Irvine, in 1997.
He edited career-guidance books for e...View more
Microsoft External Research, Redmond, WA, USA
John Nordlinger is currently pursuing the Master's degree in film production at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
He joined Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, in 2001, where he collaborated with academic institutions in the northeast United States and India. After convincing Microsoft Research to open a research lab in Bangalore, India, he then focused on mitigating the decline in CS enrollments. Along with...Show More
John Nordlinger is currently pursuing the Master's degree in film production at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
He joined Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, in 2001, where he collaborated with academic institutions in the northeast United States and India. After convincing Microsoft Research to open a research lab in Bangalore, India, he then focused on mitigating the decline in CS enrollments. Along with...View more
Contents Department of Computing and Software Systems, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Kelvin Sung received the B.E.E. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and 1992, respectively.
He was an Assistant Professor with the School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and a Software Architect with Alias—Wavefront (now part of Autodesk), Toronto, ON, Canada, where he played a key role in designing and implementing the first version of the Maya Renderer. Currently, he is a faculty member with the Computing and Software Systems Department, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. His research interests include high-quality image synthesis, video game development, serious games, and computer science education.
Prof. Sung is a Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Kelvin Sung received the B.E.E. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1986, and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and 1992, respectively.
He was an Assistant Professor with the School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Singapore, and a Software Architect with Alias—Wavefront (now part of Autodesk), Toronto, ON, Canada, where he played a key role in designing and implementing the first version of the Maya Renderer. Currently, he is a faculty member with the Computing and Software Systems Department, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. His research interests include high-quality image synthesis, video game development, serious games, and computer science education.
Prof. Sung is a Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).View more
Department of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Cinnamon Hillyard received the Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Utah State University, Logan, in 1999.
She is an Assistant Professor with the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She also completed a post-doctorate position in mathematics with the University of Arizona, Tucson. Her scholarship focuses on undergraduate mathematics and science education, especially in the assessment of learning outcomes.
Prof. Hillyard currently holds the position of Past-Chair of the Special Interest Group of the Mathematical Association of America on Quantitative Literacy (SIGMAA-QL) and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the National Numeracy Network (NNN).
Cinnamon Hillyard received the Ph.D. degree in mathematics from Utah State University, Logan, in 1999.
She is an Assistant Professor with the Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences Program, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She also completed a post-doctorate position in mathematics with the University of Arizona, Tucson. Her scholarship focuses on undergraduate mathematics and science education, especially in the assessment of learning outcomes.
Prof. Hillyard currently holds the position of Past-Chair of the Special Interest Group of the Mathematical Association of America on Quantitative Literacy (SIGMAA-QL) and is the Secretary/Treasurer for the National Numeracy Network (NNN).View more
Department of Education, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Robin Lynn Angotti received the B.S. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 2004.
She taught secondary mathematics at D. H. Conley High School, Greenville, NC, and remedial mathematics at North Carolina State University. She was the Assistant Director of the Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education and an Assistant Professor with East Carolina University. in 2007, she became an Assistant Professor with the University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She has published in Mathematics Teacher, The NCTM Yearbook on Data and Chance, The AMTE Monograph, and the Statistics Education Research Journal. Her fields of interest are mathematics, statistics, and technology education.
Dr. Angotti is a Member of the North American Chapter of the Psychology of Mathematics Education, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators.
Robin Lynn Angotti received the B.S. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, in 1988 and 1990, respectively, and the Ph.D. degree in mathematics education from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, in 2004.
She taught secondary mathematics at D. H. Conley High School, Greenville, NC, and remedial mathematics at North Carolina State University. She was the Assistant Director of the Center for Science, Mathematics and Technology Education and an Assistant Professor with East Carolina University. in 2007, she became an Assistant Professor with the University of Washington Bothell, Bothell. She has published in Mathematics Teacher, The NCTM Yearbook on Data and Chance, The AMTE Monograph, and the Statistics Education Research Journal. Her fields of interest are mathematics, statistics, and technology education.
Dr. Angotti is a Member of the North American Chapter of the Psychology of Mathematics Education, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators.View more
Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA, USA
Michael W. Panitz received the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
He has worked with Microsoft in the. Net Common Language Runtime group and is currently a Senior Founding Faculty Member with Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA. He is currently interested in using innovative technologies and techniques to teach lower division computer programming and computer science, and he has been interested in reliable distributed systems.
Mr. Panitz is a Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).
Michael W. Panitz received the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in 1998 and 1999, respectively.
He has worked with Microsoft in the. Net Common Language Runtime group and is currently a Senior Founding Faculty Member with Cascadia Community College, Bothell, WA. He is currently interested in using innovative technologies and techniques to teach lower division computer programming and computer science, and he has been interested in reliable distributed systems.
Mr. Panitz is a Member of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).View more
Teaching and Learning Center, University of Washington, Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
David S. Goldstein received the B.A. degree in English from the University of California, Riverside, in 1984; the M.A. degree in communication from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1985; the M.A. degree in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1988; and the Ph.D. degree in comparative culture from the University of California, Irvine, in 1997.
He edited career-guidance books for engineers with Professional Publications, Inc., Belmont, CA, and was a Lecturer with the University of California, Irvine; Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, WA; and the University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, where he is now a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center. He has presented internationally on the scholarship of teaching and learning and co-edited, with Audrey B. Thacker, Complicating Constructions: Race, Ethnicity, and Hybridity in American Texts (Univ. Washington Press, 2007). He serves on the Editorial Board of Ethnic Studies and peer reviews for Ethnic Studies Review and Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States.
Dr. Goldstein is a founding member of the Research Committee of the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning.
David S. Goldstein received the B.A. degree in English from the University of California, Riverside, in 1984; the M.A. degree in communication from Stanford University, Stanford, CA, in 1985; the M.A. degree in American civilization from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1988; and the Ph.D. degree in comparative culture from the University of California, Irvine, in 1997.
He edited career-guidance books for engineers with Professional Publications, Inc., Belmont, CA, and was a Lecturer with the University of California, Irvine; Shoreline Community College, Shoreline, WA; and the University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, where he is now a Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Teaching and Learning Center. He has presented internationally on the scholarship of teaching and learning and co-edited, with Audrey B. Thacker, Complicating Constructions: Race, Ethnicity, and Hybridity in American Texts (Univ. Washington Press, 2007). He serves on the Editorial Board of Ethnic Studies and peer reviews for Ethnic Studies Review and Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States.
Dr. Goldstein is a founding member of the Research Committee of the Association for Authentic, Experiential and Evidence-Based Learning.View more
Microsoft External Research, Redmond, WA, USA
John Nordlinger is currently pursuing the Master's degree in film production at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
He joined Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, in 2001, where he collaborated with academic institutions in the northeast United States and India. After convincing Microsoft Research to open a research lab in Bangalore, India, he then focused on mitigating the decline in CS enrollments. Along with participating on various panels, he coauthored two papers at SIGCSE 2008: one on teaching with XNA GSE, and one on teaching CS with socially relevant themes. He also co-edited the book World of Warcraft and Philosophy (Open Court, 2009) and contributed to the tome Ethics and Game Design: Teaching Values Through Play (Inf. Sci. Reference, 2010), by David Gibson and Karen Schrier. His first film, The Allegory of the Game, has been selected for three film festivals.
John Nordlinger is currently pursuing the Master's degree in film production at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
He joined Microsoft Research, Redmond, WA, in 2001, where he collaborated with academic institutions in the northeast United States and India. After convincing Microsoft Research to open a research lab in Bangalore, India, he then focused on mitigating the decline in CS enrollments. Along with participating on various panels, he coauthored two papers at SIGCSE 2008: one on teaching with XNA GSE, and one on teaching CS with socially relevant themes. He also co-edited the book World of Warcraft and Philosophy (Open Court, 2009) and contributed to the tome Ethics and Game Design: Teaching Values Through Play (Inf. Sci. Reference, 2010), by David Gibson and Karen Schrier. His first film, The Allegory of the Game, has been selected for three film festivals.View more
