Digital Gaming as a Vehicle for Learning A Game-Immersed CS1 Department of Computer Science University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Eau Claire, WI Department of Computer Science University of North Carolina - Charlotte Charlotte, NC Michael WickTiffany Barnes

Goal The primary goal of this project is to establish preliminary evidence that teaching introductory programming using a multiplayer online game that is designed to appeal to a broad audience will improve student engagement, satisfaction, and skill transfer, particularly for women. Specifically, we seek to develop a gender-neutral online multiplayer game in which to immerse previously successful introductory programming pedagogical materials.

Motivating Statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics Bureau of Labor Statistics l IT jobs growing, students enrolling shrinking American Association of University Women Education Foundation American Association of University Women Education Foundation l If women participated at same rate as men, shortage could be averted l Women often leave computer science due to intimidating and isolating environment Research on Gaming Research on Gaming l 40% of all gamers are women [Henry Jenkins III] l 50.4% of online gamers [Lisa Guernsey]

Sketchy Overview of Gaming in CS Games as Programming Assignments Games as Programming Assignments l Introductory CS l Senior Capstone l Software Engineering Game Design and Development Game Design and Development l Majors l Minors l Certificates Visual Programming/Virtual Worlds Visual Programming/Virtual Worlds l Introductory CS l Introduction to Computing Assumption: People who enjoy playing games also enjoy writing games.

Our Approach Thesis Thesis l A collaborative multiplayer role-playing game can create an environment in CS that is inviting, safe, and socially stimulating particularly for women. Further, this environment can be used to effectively teach introductory programming skills that directly transfer to subsequent courses. Synopsis Synopsis l Teach our students the things we need to teach them but within a context that is safe, concrete, and familiar.

Specifics Game-immersed Game-immersed l Lectures l Assignments F Students play a collaborative multiplayer online game that requires programming to meet its challenges Game Design Principles for a Diverse Audience Game Design Principles for a Diverse Audience l Use avatars to allow individuality and anonymity l Both cooperative and individual task l Avoid gratuitous violence and first-person shooting l Allow for experimentation and exploration l Require social interaction and team building l Theme should include travel in the service of others l Flexible roles (work as leader or collaborator) l Success should mean a positive resolution (justice restored)

Specifics Adventures of Robyn Hood Adventures of Robyn Hood l Students are 2D avatars l Communicate via chat l Placed into “bands” and dropped into middle ages Mission Artwork Recovery Mission Artwork Recovery l Characters introduced to town folk who solicit their help l Tyrant has stolen art work and valuables l Characters must move undetected through mansion collecting stolen art work and return it to secret campsite. l Sympathetic employee who works in the mansion has embedded into mansion paintings (using stenography techniques) clues as to the location of stolen artwork l Each student given challenge of programming avatar with ability to extract hidden messages to aid in game. l Students can meet in secret campsite to cooperatively strategize movement through mansion