With plenty of excitement surrounding CS Ed Week (fast approaching next week), here's an activity that will be available for you to check out.
- Svetty
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In
one hour, have your students learn about computer science by building an
exciting 3D game which they can share on mobile phones during CSEdWeek this
year. They will not only learn about programming, but also learn to design
their own 3D models. The students create 3D characters, entire worlds, and rule
these worlds through programming. We have added international versions
including localized versions of instructional videos, and programming language
tool tips:
* English: www.csedweek.us
(by University of Colorado at Boulder, USA)
* German, French, Italian: www.csedweek.ch
(by School of Education FHNW, Switzerland)
*
Spanish: www.csedweek.mx
(by Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico)
What is
so unique about this tutorial? This tutorial is not a sequence of programming
puzzles but is based on the principles of the project-first pedagogy.
Students are provided a complete
programing environment in which they build a working game. The ownership
resulting from creating their own 3D worlds and characters has been found to
motivate students' interest in programming. In one hour students can create the
first working part of a 3D game including 3D modeling and programing. Our data
show that students are so motivated to build their game that the majority
continue to work on their games beyond one hour.
The tutorial is based on 3D
AgentCubes online, a cloud-based computational thinking tool. Games and
simulations built as part of this activity can be extended later, and can be
played on smartphones.
