Video Game Design (1 on 1 Tutoring Session)

Beginner to Intermediate Video Game Design Tutoring-- This class introduces students to basic coding vocabulary and techniques.  Students don't need to have any previous coding experience.  This tutoring would also be good for students that have a little bit of experience, but would like to take the next step.  

Future-Ready Skills-- Create2Discover classes integrate future-ready skills into the curriculum to help prepare students for a rapid-changing future.  This class includes exercises that help students improve their digital communication skills.  Students have the opportunity to present their work, receive feedback, and learn to use storytelling to grab the attention of their audience.
-------------------------------------
Important:  A Windows based PC is required for this class.   The Kodu program will not work on a Mac, Chromebook, or other device.   Kodu is a free download at https://www.kodugamelab.com/.
_____________________
How would you like to create your own original video game for you and all your friends to play?  Kids will learn to make games via a simple visual programming language. This program is a great entry into design and programming skills. Students will follow a kid-friendly process similar to real video game designers who create the games they play at home!  Additionally, students work on their communication skills as they present their games to the teacher and receive feedback. 

Possible topics covered are listed below, but are dependent on student experience.  If a student is a complete beginner, I would start them at the beginning and work through the skills.  After the first session, students are welcome to sign up for additional sessions to continue learning.

Topics Covered Below Based on Student Experience and Number of Sessions

-Students learn programming logic to code characters’ behaviors and reactions to events in their games.  All programming in Kodu is WHEN/DO (similar to IF/THEN statements).
-Students learn to use the tools available in Kodu to create land, water, mountains, buildings, and more.
-Students learn more advanced coding to give their characters power-ups.  This involves creating parallel programming that changes the behavior of their characters based on a specific event.
-Students learn how to effectively present the games they make to the teacher.
-Students use storytelling to grab the attention of their audience during game presentations.
-Students receive feedback on the games made in the class allowing them to consider their audience as they create games.
-Students create variables in coding to store data in their code.  
-Students use variables to keep track of points.
-Students use variables to keep track of time in a game.
-Students code objects to spawn characters for teleporting and checkpoints.
-Students use pages/advanced logic to switch between player characters in the game.
-Students use sub-routines/nesting in their coding.

_____________________
Instructional Technique

During this class, students watch short demonstrations on how to use Kodu followed by independent activities that allow them to practice what they learned in the demonstration.  During the demonstration, I ask questions to engage students with the code to help them understand how the code works and why we use certain coding techniques.  

Parents and students sometimes ask me why I don’t let students code/create with me why I do the demonstration.  Through my experience, I have found that when kids in this age group try to do the activities with me, they focus more on trying to keep up with me instead of understanding why we are choosing certain coding blocks.  I want to help kids to learn how to code; not just copy my actions.

While students work on the independent activity, they have the ability to ask me for help.