Document

Engaging Students Through Video Game Development

Educational Ideas for Today, Tomorrow and the Future Mitzi Plunkett Andrew Bigby Orelle Anderson Rayfield C. Henderson and Joyce C. Ferguson, Co-Principals Boyd H. Anderson High School, Lauderdale Lakes, FL

Objectives on Target 

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Identifying how video game development engages students. Understanding how video game development elevates higher order thinking skills. Acquiring programming skills through video game development.. Increasing literacy through the use of video game development.

Today’s Generation 

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Interactive and visual products 24-7. Students demanding engaging material because they it fast and they want it now. Majority of students regularly play video games and want to be video game designers.

Education Research and Video Games 

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Since 2002, increase in minority students with learning and emotional disabilities. “There is evidence indicating that minority students who are most at risk for failure in the traditional classroom setting also spend an average of twenty-seven minutes per day more than their counterparts using video games .” “Video games allow teachers to share learning experiences with the students and to label and extend the student's learning in such a way as to truly prepare the child for future challenges. “ Resource: Elizabeth S. Simpson, Association for Educational Communications and Technology http://www.aect.org/Publications/index.asp.

Video Game Design Video

Making Real World Experience!

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Video game curriculum provides for a real world project. Students have an online mentor/supervisor. Student have to identify the customer’s criteria and constraints. Students create a video game that can be played anywhere within a few weeks!

Project Based Learning

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Working in a collaborative team. Completing phases of the project jointly and individually. Curriculum includes online worksheets and quizzes. Students work as a team to create a video game from a game template Students work on various parts, i.e. programming, graphic design, sound, etc.

Project Based Learners

Stages of Project Based Learning Planning •Brainstorming

Developing

•Assessing student’s prior knowledge

•Reading phases with graphic organizers

•Selecting project manager

•Practicing command line interface

•Establishing group norms

•Viewing videos

•Division of tasks

•Worksheets

•Setting timeline

•Quizzes

Designing •Writing code

Implementing

•Designing graphics

•Creating an executable game file

•Importing sound

•Oral presentation

•Testing and error checking

•Peer review assessment worksheet

•Quality assurance checklist

•Oral presentation to peers

Video Game Development…

Video Game Development Projects

Dark Basic Editor: Students Manipulate Coding

Gaming Concepts to Teach Game Engines

Loops

Prototype

Algorithms

Variables/Logical Operators

Random & Real Numbers

IF/THEN Statements

Camera Positioning X,Y, Z axis

BETA Testing

Results of Project Based Learning    

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Students are focused. Less discipline problems. Students work from bell to bell. Students with low reading levels can increase levels with supporting video which helps with reading text. Increased literacy and vocabulary due to real world experience. Graphic organizers used in conjunction with videos and text increases comprehension. Increasing reading endurance.

Development of Higher Order Thinking Skills 1. Acquiring knowledge about game design through reading and testing. 2. Applying knowledge for problem solving, designing and developing video game. 3. Refining knowledge for analyzing and writing code.

4. Adapting the skills learned to create solutions and take action to further develop thinking skills. 5. Synthesizing information and making process changes. 6. Becoming problem solvers and thinkers

Conclusions 

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Through video game development, teachers can increase student learning and grab their attention. Creating a relationship between learning and how it can be applied in the real world. Motivating students with an interactive program. Engaging students with rigor and relevance in the classroom and elevating higher order thinking skills. Students will become better competitors in a global marketplace.