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A games first approach to teaching introductory programming

Authors:

Scott Leutenegger,

Jeffrey EdgingtonAuthors Info & Claims

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, Volume 39, Issue 1

Pages 115 - 118

https://doi.org/10.1145/1227504.1227352

Published: 07 March 2007 Publication History

Abstract

In this paper we argue for using a "Game First" approach to teaching introductory programming. We believe that concerns over whether an OO approach or a procedural approach should be used first are secondary to the course assignment and example content. If examples are not compelling, student interest often lags thus making the OO versus procedural argument moot. We believe that game programming motivates most new programmers. Compelling assignments mean that students are far more likely to learn because they are interested, and the visual component allows students to see mistakes in their code as manifested in the resultant graphics. We describe our experiences after redesigning and offering a new introductory computer science sequence using 2D game development as a unifying theme. We teach fundamental programming concepts via two dimensional game development in Flash and ActionScript during the first quarter, transition to C++ to solidify concepts and add pointers during the second quarter, then teach a multi-phase project based game approach using C++ and openGL (2D graphics only) during the third quarter. Our surveys show that this approach improved student understanding of all seven basic topics examined.

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Cited By

Uzun BGüven EEren T(2024)Oyun Geliştirme Konulu Lisansüstü Tezlerin Bibliyometrik AnaliziUluslararası Yönetim Bilişim Sistemleri ve Bilgisayar Bilimleri Dergisi10.33461/uybisbbd.1526862Online publication date: 7-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.33461/uybisbbd.1526862
Bellino AHerskovic V(2023)Protobject as a tool for teaching computational thinking to designers: student perceptions on usabilityProceedings of the 15th Biannual Conference of the Italian SIGCHI Chapter10.1145/3605390.3605401(1-8)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3605390.3605401
Bellino AHerskovic VHund MMunoz-Gama J(2021)A Real-world Approach to Motivate Students on the First Class of a Computer Science CourseACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/344598221:3(1-23)Online publication date: 10-May-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3445982
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Index Terms

A games first approach to teaching introductory programming
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing education
      1. Computing education programs
        Computer science education
2. Software and its engineering

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Information & Contributors

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Published In

cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin

ACM SIGCSE Bulletin Volume 39, Issue 1

March 2007

581 pages

ISSN:0097-8418

DOI:10.1145/1227504

Issue’s Table of Contents

SIGCSE '07: Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education
March 2007
634 pages
ISBN:1595933611
DOI:10.1145/1227310
General Chairs:
Ingrid Russell
University of Hartford
,
Susan Haller
SUNY Potsdam
,
Program Chairs:
J. D. Dougherty
Haverford College
,
Susan Rodger
Duke University

Copyright © 2007 ACM.

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 07 March 2007

Published in SIGCSE Volume 39, Issue 1

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Cited By

Uzun BGüven EEren T(2024)Oyun Geliştirme Konulu Lisansüstü Tezlerin Bibliyometrik AnaliziUluslararası Yönetim Bilişim Sistemleri ve Bilgisayar Bilimleri Dergisi10.33461/uybisbbd.1526862Online publication date: 7-Oct-2024
https://doi.org/10.33461/uybisbbd.1526862
Bellino AHerskovic V(2023)Protobject as a tool for teaching computational thinking to designers: student perceptions on usabilityProceedings of the 15th Biannual Conference of the Italian SIGCHI Chapter10.1145/3605390.3605401(1-8)Online publication date: 20-Sep-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3605390.3605401
Bellino AHerskovic VHund MMunoz-Gama J(2021)A Real-world Approach to Motivate Students on the First Class of a Computer Science CourseACM Transactions on Computing Education10.1145/344598221:3(1-23)Online publication date: 10-May-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3445982
Mohamed A(2021)Teaching highly mixed-ability CS1 classes: A proposed approachEducation and Information Technologies10.1007/s10639-021-10546-8Online publication date: 2-Jul-2021
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-021-10546-8
Tian YAlhloul SShen FJi Y(2021)Motivating Computer Science Students in Lower-Division Undergraduate CurriculumITNG 2021 18th International Conference on Information Technology-New Generations10.1007/978-3-030-70416-2_37(291-296)Online publication date: 17-Feb-2021
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70416-2_37
Kanika Chakraverty SChakraborty P(2020)Tools and Techniques for Teaching Computer Programming: A ReviewJournal of Educational Technology Systems10.1177/004723952092697149:2(170-198)Online publication date: 27-May-2020
https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239520926971
Ch’ng SLow YLee YChia WYeong L(2019)Video Games: A Potential Vehicle for Teaching Computational ThinkingComputational Thinking Education10.1007/978-981-13-6528-7_14(247-260)Online publication date: 3-May-2019
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-6528-7_14
Gokhale A(2018)Measuring students' attitudes toward information technologyJournal of Computing Sciences in Colleges10.5555/3199572.319958633:4(101-102)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2018
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Hong GYao JMichael CPhillips L(2018)A multilingual and comparative approach to teaching introductory computer programmingJournal of Computing Sciences in Colleges10.5555/3199572.319957333:4(4-12)Online publication date: 1-Apr-2018
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Boldbaatar NŞendurur E(2018)Developing Educational 3D Games With StarLogo: The Role of Backwards Fading in the Transfer of Programming ExperienceJournal of Educational Computing Research10.1177/073563311880674757:6(1468-1494)Online publication date: 26-Oct-2018
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