Games for Social Causes:

CSTA 2012

Dianne O’Grady-CunniffWaldorf, Maryland USAFrom the presentation by Pat Yongpradit of code.org

Agenda

Part 1: Why Games?

Part 2: Game Ideas

Part 3: Possible tools:

Java, Python, XNA, Scratch, etc.

Part 4: Resources

What teachers and students want

More students taking CS

Engage deep computational thinking

Self-motivated kids

Real world connections

Social significance

Part 1: Why Games?Not just shooter and action games

Why Games?

Popular medium – It’s a game!

Open to creativity in design and

creation

Learn while making, as well as

playing

Interdisciplinary – Involves all

Project-based learning process

Video Gam

e

Science/Math/Art

Algorithms

Passion Creativity

Teamwork

21st Century

Skills

Interdisciplinary Project-based learning

Demos: Bead For LifeFree Rice

Part 2: Game Ideas How to create an educational

game

An educational game

should be educational.

Creating an educational game

1. Identify skills and content

2. Pick a game genre

3. Focus on game design elements

4. Structure the development process

1. Identify Skills and Content

Context? Civil Rights Movement

Game Programming

Core ideas? Principles of non-violent

opposition

Data, User Input, Classes and

Objects

Key skills? Managing a non-violent

protest

Array processing,

Encapsulating data

Topic: Lunch Counter Sit-Ins

Actual Lunch Counter

2. Pick a Game Genre

Action Adventure

Role-Playing Game

Puzzle

Simulation

Button Masher

3. Elements of a Game

Actors

Goals

Rules

Mechanics

Environment

Plot

How do we manipulate the elements of a game to deliver content and develop skills?

4. Process

Overview Fundamentals Groups Planning

PairProgramming

Prototype Presentation Assessment

Actual Game: Nashville 1960

Demo: Nashville 1960

Part 3: ToolsProgramming the Game

Scratch

Sample lesson planshttp://mrs-o-c.com/csta/socialGood/

Part 4: ResourcesImagine Cup, Free Book, Curriculum, Videos, etc.

Imagine Cup

“Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems…”

XNA 0.5, 1, 2 Curriculum

Video Tutorials

Tests with Keys

Labs with Exemplars

Free eBook

MSFT Faculty Connection For Pat Yongpradit’s XNA materials check out his website: http://patyongpradit.com/curriculum/

Scratch , Alice, Kodu, Greenfoot

Free resources

◦Scratch http://scratch.mit.edu

◦BYOB Scratch: http://byob.berkeley.edu/

◦Alice http://www.alice.org/index.php

◦Kodu http://www.kodugamelab.com

◦Greenfoot http://www.greenfoot.org

Questions?