Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development

Presentation at SIGCSE 2016 in Memphis, USA

Transcript

1. s.krusche@tum.de - www.skrusche.de - @skrusche
   SIGCSE 2016 Symposium
   Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge (March 05, 2016)
   Experiences from an Experiential Learning
   Course on Games Development
   

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2. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development 2
   Stephan Krusche Paul Tolstoi Prof. Bernd Bruegge
   Barbara Reichart
   Chair for Applied Software Engineering
   Technical University of Munich
   

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3. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Introduction
   • Software engineering (SE) is an interactive and collaborative activity [23] that
   requires the practical application of knowledge [8, 20]
   • Students are not able to apply SE if they only take traditional lecture-based classes
   • Several pedagogic theories promote self-guided learning, personal responsibility
   practical relevance and individualization
   • Problem-based learning [4]
   • Cooperative learning [12]
   • Blended learning [10]
   • Experiential learning [14]
   3
   

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4. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Course Idea
   • Apply these learning techniques
   • Intense practical course (“block course”) over 2 weeks
   • “Completely concentrate on the course and get something done”
   • Students learn software engineering and develop a small mobile game
   • Games development motivates students
   • Apple’s iOS platform and Xcode IDE provide a great environment
   • Students can learn the basics in a few days
   • Students can develop a small mobile game within one week
   4
   

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5. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Course Design
   • 2 week block course (9 am - 6 pm) in the same room
   • 2 participation modes
   • Beginners have knowledge in at least one object-oriented programming (e.g. Java, C++, C#), but did
   not develop in iOS before (no game development experience)
   • Tutors: Advanced students prepare and present a tutorial, and help in the game development
   • Up to 40 participants: 34 beginners and 6 tutors
   5
   

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6. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Learning Objectives
   • Beginners
   • Acquire skills in iOS and game programming
   • Learn a new programming language (Swift) and get to know a new IDE (Xcode)
   • Learn software engineering techniques such as modeling and design patterns
   • Improve soft skills through communication and presentation
   • Experience a small team project and learn the basics of distributed version control
   • Learn the mechanics of game design
   • Tutors
   • Deepen knowledge in iOS and game development
   • Get first experiences with teaching
   6
   

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7. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Course Activities
   7
   weeks
   - 8
   - 6
   - 1
   1
   2
   +6
   Choose topic for
   interactive tutorial
   Prepare tutorial
   Dry run
   Give tutorial
   Help students with
   development
   Finalize online
   tutorial
   Tutor Mode
   Develop game in
   teams of 2 students
   Submit game to
   AppStore
   Beginner Mode
   Attend tutorials
   Preparation
   Phase
   Course
   Phase
   Follow-up
   Phase
   

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8. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Course Phase Schedule
   8
   Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
   First
   week
   Introduction to
   language &
   platform
   Advanced
   language
   & platform
   concepts
   Introduction to
   game
   development
   Advanced game
   topics
   Advanced game
   topics
   Programming
   assignment
   Second
   week
   Development of a mobile game in teams of 2 students
   Intermediate
   milestone
   Presentation and
   demo
   

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9. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
   Tutorial session
   1) Interactive live tutorial (“hands-on”, 90 - 120 min)
   • Small chunks (5-10min) of theory, example, exercise,
   solution and reflection
   2) Exercise (30 min)
   • Larger exercise that builds upon the interactive tutorial
   • No solution is provided, students solve it on their own
   • Tutors correct the solution and provide feedback
   ➡ Each day in the first week includes 3 tutorials
   9
   Exercise
   Example
   Solution
   Theory
   Student
   Reflection
   

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10. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Tutorials
    1) Introducing Swift
    2) Your First iOS App
    3) Intermediate Swift
    4) Storyboarding
    5) Advanced Swift
    6) Model View Controller
    10
    7) Introduction to SpriteKit (2D)
    8) Advanced SpriteKit
    9) SpriteKit Physics
    10) Introduction to SceneKit (3D)
    11) Advanced SceneKit
    12) Special Effects with SpriteKit and SceneKit
    13) Sensors for Games
    14) Game Center
    

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11. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Course Philosophy
    “Tell me and I will forget. 

    Show me and I will remember. 

    Involve me and I will understand. 

    Step back and I will act”
    — Chinese Proverb [15]
    (first mentioned by Confucius,
    adapted by Benjamin Franklin)
    11
    

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12. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Course Details
    • Pecha Kucha presentations (20 slides x 20 s, automatic transition)
    • Feedback and presentation videos provided to the students
    • External graphic designer helps to create more complex sprites with dedicated tools
    • High interaction between tutors and beginners
    • Application of rubber duck debugging [11]
    • Game design mechanisms are taught 

    through iterative discussions and feedback
    • Live tutorials include optional challenges for 

    students who solve the exercises more quickly
    • Grading based on final game and final presentation
    12
    

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13. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development 13
    

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14. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development 14
    

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15. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Tutorial Evaluation (on average)
    15
    0 %
    20 %
    40 %
    60 %
    80 %
    100 %
    Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
    Tutorial objectives
    were clear
    Exercise assignments
    supported tutorial
    objectives
    I learned new
    concepts in the
    tutorial
    63%
    33%
    4%
    58%
    38%
    4%
    67%
    25%
    8%
    

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16. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Overall Course Evaluation I
    16
    0 %
    20 %
    40 %
    60 %
    80 %
    100 %
    Strongly disagree Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly agree
    The order of the
    covered content
    was adjusted well
    Many practical
    application aspects
    are presented
    I could understand
    the explanations of
    the teacher
    57%
    41%
    2%
    75%
    22%
    4%
    48%
    33%
    20%
    

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17. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Overall Course Evaluation II
    17
    0 %
    20 %
    40 %
    60 %
    80 %
    100 %
    Very low Low Medium High Very high
    The difficulty of 

    the content was …
    The speed of the
    delivery was …
    The required prior
    knowledge was …
    39%
    33%
    2%
    27%
    2%
    14%
    61%
    10%
    12%
    36%
    2%
    56%
    6%
    

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18. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    18 games in the AppStore
    18
    

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19. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Example Game: Fluffy Run
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20. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Summary: Application of learning techniques
    • Problem-based learning
    • Students always solve a particular problem in exercises or in the game development
    • Cooperative learning
    • Tutors and beginners work together
    • Game development in team work
    • Blended learning
    • Computer-mediated activities support the course
    • Immediate feedback about student’s learning progress
    • Experiential learning
    • Students experience problems, reflect over them and develop skill
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21. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
    Conclusion
    • Students increase their software engineering skills, in particular object oriented
    programming, game development and soft skills
    • Games development brings fun into the curriculum!
    • Students appreciate the great learning experience and have a lot of fun :-)
    • Each semester, more than 100 students apply for the course
    • 18 games were submitted into the AppStore
    • Want to adopt the course? Talk to me or send me a mail: s.krusche@tum.de
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22. s.krusche@tum.de - www.skrusche.de - @skrusche
    Thank You!
    SIGCSE 2016 Symposium
    Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge (March 05, 2016)
    Experiences from an Experiential Learning
    Course on Games Development
    

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23. Stephan Krusche, Barbara Reichart, Paul Tolstoi, Bernd Bruegge: Experiences from an Experiential Learning Course on Games Development
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