The Course | excalibur

The Course ~ Outline

Excalibur is designed in three distinct units:

1. The Arcade: where students...

play and analyze as many games as time permits
explore the narratives and the vocabulary of games and game design
explore the history of games
identify an aspect of the process, be it animation, programming, artwork,

quality control, sound, music, etc. that they feel interests the m

will explore systems thinking and virtual/augmented reality
will be encouraged to communicat e their thinking and reasoning clearly in written communication and presentations

2. The Workshop: where students...

explore game design software such as GameFroot, Game Salad,

Game Star Mechanic, Unity and others.

achieve competency with at least one of these design platforms
explore several programming languages
build their own game starting with the pitch (a proposal) and including a timeline
culminate the unit by playing each other’s games and offering constructive feedback
continue to record the vocabulary, explore the history, and will begin to examine basic business strategies and marketing techniques utilized by successful game design companies

3. The Company: where students...

come together to form one business entity
after research and planning, pitch a game idea
select one game proposal
utilize the SCRUM Framework for completing complex projects, build,
test, iterate, and adapt the game for multiple devices/platforms
(iPhone, android, X-Box, PlayStation, PC, etc.)
rotate through several roles of their own choosing during the process
brand, market, produce and sell the game
investigate video game content rating systems in light of their impact on design

Standards...

The United States does not have official testing standards for computer science. Yet, there are unofficial standards including expected norms and established standards. The Computer Science Teachers’ Association (CSTA) leads the pack in establishing those standards.

Over the past few decades, computers have transformed both the world and the workforce in many profound ways. As a result, computer science and the technologies it enables now lie at the heart of our economy and the way we live our lives.

To be well-educated citizens in a computing-intensive world and to be prepared for careers in the 21st century, our students must have a clear understanding of the principles and practices of computer science. No other subject will open as many doors in the 21st century as computer science, regardless of a student’s ultimate field of study or occupation.

--- CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards

Teaching STEAM through gaming isn't just about playing the games; it's also about creating them.

Excalibur Goals...

attract interest in computer science from a broad and diverse range of students
teach the fundamentals of programming and computational thinking
instill confidence in working with technology
foster creativity, curiosity, and collaboration
teach how to program computing devices to make things of real-world interest and use
blend playfulness and fun into the learning

Students will...

develop their knowledge of design and technology within society
broaden their knowledge of tools, techniques and strategies
investigate product aesthetics and functions, both past and present
examine how they affect the quality of our daily lives
learn how to code by using real software development processes to design, program and publish mobile games and game apps
explore moral, social, and cultural questions which arise within the design process…
gain insight into the marketing & branding processes of design production
develop their thinking skills and explore the wider world around them
reflect upon what they see and develop an open mind

"Game development could potentially be the most authentic approach to interdisciplinary learning. There’s really something for everyone. The activity lends so well to the creation of design teams with roles including storytelling/narrative, graphic design, animation, sound engineering, project management, and programming. It is also very important to note that game design taps so nicely into the realm of 21st century skills." --- Steve Isaacs