Transforming Experience of Computer Science Software Development through Multiplayer Online Game Classroom Collaboration in Industrial Format

这个创新的软件开发课程正在旧金山州立大学和加州州立大学洛杉矶分校开发和测试一种新的计算机科学教学方法。在模拟典型工业工作环境的教室里，学生们集体使用各种复杂的软件组件创建和构建一个多人在线游戏。在此过程中，学生培养了：(1)有效的沟通、表达、协作和解决问题的能力；(2)掌握核心计算机科学内容的动力增强；(3)健壮的最终产品；(4)实用的见解，为他们在工业界的成功职业生涯做好准备。可扩展的游戏编程课程包括一套教学材料和附带的文档，所有这些都是免费提供给教育社区。计算机科学教师可以灵活地采用教材，包括那些没有足够的背景来开发多人在线游戏编程或自己开发高级软件设计课程的教师。该项目是加州州立大学系统两个校区的合作项目，加州州立大学系统是美国最大、种族最多样化的高等教育系统之一，正在地区和全国范围内推广。创新的课程设计吸引了传统上不被STEM教育吸引的学生，包括许多在两个试点校区入学的人数众多的科学领域代表性不足的少数族裔。该项目通过免费提供学生制作的游戏面向公众，从而有趣地向非科学家展示基本的计算机科学概念，并潜在地激励年轻人考虑从事软件开发的职业。

This innovative software development course is developing and testing a novel approach to computer science instruction at San Francisco State University and California State University Los Angeles. In classrooms emulating typical industry work environments, students are collectively creating and building a Multiplayer Online Game using a variety of complex software components. In the process, students are developing: (1) effective communication, presentation, collaboration and trouble-shooting skills; (2) heightened motivation to master core computer science content; (3) a robust end product; and (4) practical insights to prepare them for successful careers in industry.The scalable game programming course includes a suite of instructional materials with accompanying documentation, all of which are being made freely available to the educational community. Materials can be flexibly adopted by computer science instructors including those who do not have sufficient background to develop multiplayer online game programming or senior-level software design courses on their own.The project is a collaboration of two campuses in the California State University System--one of the nation's largest and most ethnically diverse systems of higher education--and is being disseminated regionally and nationally. The innovative course design appeals to students who have not traditionally been attracted to STEM education, including many from minorities underrepresented in the sciences that enroll in large numbers at the two pilot campuses. The project reaches out to the public by making the student-produced games freely available, thereby playfully exposing non-scientists to essential computer science concepts and potentially inspiring young people to consider careers in software development.