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Game Maker as a First

Programming Course

Presented by:

Jeff CiaccioSprayberry High School

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Game Maker is FUN!!

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Game Maker is FUN!!

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Did I mention

Game Maker is FUN!!

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Did I mention

The Java fun??

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Game Maker is intuitive just drag

and drop.

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Game Maker was developed by a

Computer Science Professor Dr. Mark Overmars

Started with Object Oriented Programming

(OOP) principles

Made development much faster, easier,more intuitive, and very little typing

Less typing means less chance of mistyping(one of the biggest problems in traditional

programming languages)

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Much easier for hands-on and visual

learners GM allows the students to immediately see

the results

Makes teaching abstract concepts much

easier than traditional lecture using Java,

C++, or others

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Much easier for hands-on and visual

learners GM incorporates abstract concepts including:

Inheritance

Polymorphism

Control structures

Objects

Instances Events

Actions

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GM puts the scienceback in computer

science GM makes it easy for students to play

what if and immediately see their results

Easy to modify others programs

Drag and drop allows for very fast and easy

changes as opposed to learning complex

and very strict programming syntax

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GM has a very dynamic online

community willing to help

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GM was designed as an educational

tool!

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GM was designed as an educational

tool! There is a plethora of educational resources

already available from primary school

through undergraduate and beyond

Lecture notes are free

Resources such as sound files, pictures,

monsters, scripts, etc are available for free

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GM has been successfully used for years

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Did I mention the price?

Most teachers are using their own (free)

resources, but the only two books available

are only $25 per copy, maybe less ifpurchased in bulk

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GM has a full OOP

language

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GM Language

Syntax is similar to Java (required for AP

Computer Sci)

All of the traditional control structures

All of the traditional data structures

Variable declarations are similar to Java

Allows for interacting with Windows OS

through the use ofDLLs

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Recruitment!! Kids (particularly boys) are attracted to making

and playing video games

When the concepts get more difficult, there is animmediate, gratifying goal a game to play!

The transition to Java will be easy

There are many books on using Java for gamedesign that could be used for an advanced course

just before AP Computer Science.

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GM uses a full programming ID

E - not text Students are familiar with forms found in most

applications

They get bored with programs that are text-based(like the Hello World program in every Javatext).

GM allows students to see the advantages of using

an IntegratedD

evelopment Environment (ID

E) Student who have used an IDE will be more

productive Java programmers when other IDEs areused.

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GM is easier for new teachers! Teachers who are not experts in Java may be

unwilling to teach a programming course

In-house expertise: Jeff Ciaccio at Sprayberry HSis willing to host CCSD training for other teachers

Consulting:Dr. Ken Hoganson at Kennesaw State

University has taught courses with GM and is

willing to assist with training (Jeff Ciaccios

Graduate Advisor)