Principal Investigators: Travis Faas, Lecturer, Human-Centered Computing, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering; Mathew Powers, Lecturer, Human-Centered Computing, Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
Project Title: Game Experience Design and Development Reflective Studio Curriculum
Funding Level: $7500
Abstract: The growth of games as an entertainment medium is creating a need for students who can critically analyze, design, and develop games and similar interactive media. Jobs in the game development sector are growing and the skills of computational thinking and experience design used in making games also lead to student success in other high-growth fields such as mixed reality, metaverse development, and user experience design. Currently, the game development classes in the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering lack crucial offerings in design and technical implementation of story-based experiences which provide the skills to succeed in these growing fields. To better prepare our students for these growing fields, we propose to develop a new sequence of classes. This sequence will consist of two new classes that introduce and refine game programming skills, and a third class where students analyze and design role-playing systems used for storytelling. These new classes will co-develop technical and aesthetic skills so that students can design and program experiences that immerse individuals in a story. Our new curricula will emphasize portfolio-oriented reflective practice where students summarize the insights developed during the sequence in public-facing online portfolios. The language in this portfolio will be developed and refined through regular critique in classroom sessions. By participating in these classes and writing reflective portfolios for public viewing, students will develop a professional vocabulary that will enable them to secure future employment and provide an artifact for us to evaluate our instructional practices.
