From Players to Programmers: A Computer Game Design Class for Middle-School Children

Abstract

The prospect of making computer games has often be used to “hook” students into learning programming or cognitive skills. There is, however, little research on using computer game design classes to teach computer skills. This article provides an answer to the question: Can a computer game design course employing the new generation of game authoring tools set middle school students on the path of learning a broad and sophisticated range of computer skills? The answer, based on the senior author's experiences teaching such a course eight times is, Yes. Students learned: an authoring system specifically designed for creating computer games; Windows 95 file management and other basic computer literacy skills; how to integrate outputs from several programs in one project—a form of computer literacy vital for multi-media designers; “if-then-else” logic; and rudimentary knowledge of programming with real-time events. Students also mastered a process for creating unique games and developed skills as autonomous learners.