Creating A Video Game Curriculum With Unity Educating 4 Careers Conference, March 2016 Wesley Jeffries

We need Computer Programmers! 1 Million Computer Science Jobs will go unfilled by 2020 Average Salaries ( from Game Developer Magazine 2013) Programmer: $92,000 Artist/Animator: $75,000 Game Designers: $75,000 Producer: $84,000

Who can teach the course? In California, Computer courses can be taught by Math III, Business, or Industrial and Technology credential. CA credentialing behind the times, but to our benefit. May already have similar class on the books (intro to programming, computer applications, etc) which can be adapted to your needs. You already have teachers on staff who are credentialed to teach Computer courses!

Why Unity? After reviewing several different Game Creation Engines such as GameMaker, Scratch, and Unreal, I decided on Unity for the following reasons: 1. Already has support of developers from Independents to large studios, and universities 2. Absence of Drag and Drop functionality ensures students will learn to code 3. Asset store allows download/purchase of items beyond the student’s abilities 4. Variety of tutorials available to teach game programming 5.Free to download and use

Getting the Classes Approved Used existing classes to get program going, but adapted them to fit our needs Created new classes, got them approved by School Board, then submitted them to UC for approval Classes currently classified as A-G electives, will become CTE once credential finalized through OCDE

Dungeons & Dragons still taboo

Mice and Mystics (Dungeons & Dragons mechanics w/o stigma)

Tokaido. Whoever is last, moves next. Very interesting move mechanic.

Student Project from Game Design Principles

Sample Projects

Scratch (MIT), used for Hour of Code

Why C# Unity uses C#, Javascript, or Boo C# is strongly worded: cat != Cat (reinforces precision) Javascript != Java, which is used in AP Computer Science A C# is a Microsoft language, and is used in Microsoft applications Object-Oriented; will better prepare them for C++ in college

Teacher/Student Resources Unity Asset Store: downloads for sale/free EdX.org : free courses to learn programming (can pay for certification or college credit) Textbook: several prototypes with code to teach using Unity (Jeremy Gibson) Unity Curricular Framework

Unity Does Heavy Lifting (Don’t have to continually reinvent the wheel) ● Unity has built-in methods (functions) that it recognizes ● Start() ● Update() ● OnTriggerEnter() ● OnCollisionEnter() ● Able to create 3D objects in Unity, or import your own

Sample Projects

What’s Next? Blend Game Design Principles and Graphic Design into 1 course AP Computer Science Principles (pick your own language) Expand the Program (Marketing!) More conferences. Presenting! Enter projects into competitions, encourage students to put themselves out there.

Establishing Relationships Businesses (difficult for us with program in infancy) Conferences! IndieCade, GDC, This one Colleges (Norco, USC, UCSC) Attend events at local colleges Other Teachers/personnel at the school/district Leverage the skills you already have!! Twitter! You’d be surprised who you can get ahold of Don’t be afraid to cold-call people

Resources Gamasutra.com Polygon.com Kotaku.com Offworld.com ucop.edu ocde.us/CTE