steve isaacs - game design and development in the studio
DESCRIPTION
Game Design and Development provides an authentic introduction to computer science concepts. Developing these skills with upper elementary and middle school students enables them to explore computer programming and problem solving within a design framework. The goal of this session is to provide a framework for teaching game design and development in a school setting. Game design and development is an underutilized, but powerful tool in terms of creativity and design thinking. Video game design provides a valuable context for creating a constructionist learning environment where students are provided with great flexibility in both the learning path and the content as students become creators of content rather than consumers. Developing games puts students in a position to utilize technology as a design tool. Throughout the process, students have opportunities to work in a studio like environment while participating in a variety of activities including graphic design, programming, and sound engineering.TRANSCRIPT
Game Design and Development in the Classroom
Presentation resources: http://bit.ly/gamedev_seriousplay
Steve Isaacs, William Annin Middle [email protected]: @mr_isaacshttp://gamesandlearning1.blogspot.com
BioSteve Isaacs, @mr_isaacs Teacher, Video Game Design and Development● Masters in Education, Online Teaching and Learning● Owner/Operator, Liberty Corner Computing, an
Interactive Training and Gaming Center● 21 years in the classroom ● Passionate about game based learning,
particularly Game Design and Development
What I’m playing
What are you playing?
Evolution of a Game Design and Development Curriculum
● Summer camps / After school program● Unit in G & T program● Full semester elective - Game Design and
Developmento GameMakero Portal 2o MineCraft
● Extension activities / Quest Based Learning● 6 week cycle / exploratory course in Game
Design and Digital Storytelling
Why is Game Design and Development Important?
Constructionism / Creativity
"Children don't get ideas, they make ideas""Better learning will not come from finding better ways for the
teacher to instruct, but from giving the learner better opportunities to construct"
Designing for an Audience (Client)
This is hard for middle schoolers!!!!
Design Thinking / Iteration
Evaluate
Play Test
Conference
Refine
Engaging in process from conceptualization to finished product
Desig
n P
lan
nin
g
Collaboration / InterdisciplinaryComputer Game
DevelopmentCSC 5930-002Dr. Tom Way
Innovative open studio approach to game development, simultaneously team-taught with a section of the course at Villinova and The College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
Computer Science ConceptsNaturally emerge in construction of game resulting in genuine, applied introduction to programming:
Debuggingo It didn’t work...why?o Authentic problem...not just
hypothetical
Cultural Capital / Agency
“In a fishing analogy, landing the fish would be mastery for the child, and once taught, we let them move on to be fascinated by some other enticing concept or to use their new knowledge to scaffold to the next higher level. They move on, with greater knowledge and experience, to build upon what they now know.”
~Connie - Little Stars Learninghttp://littlestartlearning.blogspot.com
Scaffolded Learning
** Scalable **
So, what does game design in class look like?
Student-Driven Learning● Open-ended
● Democratic learning environment
● Studio setting
● It doesn’t have to be an “educational game”
Setting up the classroom
● Studio environmento Teacher as facilitator / partner in learningo Quest Based Learning (3dgamelab)
Main Quest Lines Side Quests
o Collaboration Options in terms of working alone or with others Build in mechanism for peer evaluation and feedback Community goal: help peer make game better (not
critique)
Setting up the classroom
Quest Map:
Video Game Design and Development
Main Quest-lines
Game Design Tools
Modding -- creating content for existing games often with in-game level editors /engines
Cameron
Development ToolsGameMaker Studio
o 2D game engineo All objects programmed with events and
actionso Drag and Drop (or coding) environment o Ability to use existing resources or create your
owno GameMaker has built-in sprite editoro Strong introduction to Programming
http://www.yoyogames.com/learn
Side Quests
Student Blogs
Empowering Learners in the Maker Age
● Wood / Sheet Metal Game Controller● Makey Makey Game Controller Box● Makey Makey Power Towel Roll Flute● Minecraft Automatic Chicken Generator● Student Created Version of Flappy Bird
(code.org)● Student Created Version of Flappy Bird (GSM)
Reflection and Debriefing
“Debriefing is the processing of the game experience to turn it into learning.”
---Crookall, 2011
Reflection and Debriefing
What does good reflection look like?● Game design principles● Storyline / Character development● Game Mechanics● Replayability factor● Challenge level vs. frustration● Aesthetics / Sound● Scoring mechanisms● Winning / losing scenario