[game_edu] Suggestions for HS Game Design Software

[Coach Payne]

Hi Folks:


Quick question - I'm developing a mini-term introduction to Game Design course at a high school.  In a course I taught in a prior school, a one-semester block course (90 minutes/day, 5 days/week), students used Alice, Scratch, Python, Ruby, and Game Maker to make games.  The favorites were Game Maker and Scratch.  I'd be interested in what the professional community might suggest.  I've used Ian Schreiber's material for a lot of my resource material.  An idea of what I've done in the past may be found at http://dpsgaming.wikispaces.com/ .


Second question - when I lived near the Research Triangle, I was able to talk directly to game development professionals, and attended events in the area.  The area to which I've relocated seems to have a dearth of game developers.  I'd love to develop a relationship with people who REALLY make games, even at a distance.  I've had Skype-conferences in the past with West Coast developers, during which time the students would ask questions and interact with developers.  As a side note, the school where I'm currently teaching is an independent girls' school, but the minicourse would also include boys from their adjacent school.  I might be interested in developing this into a larger, perhaps year-long course at both schools, should I develop an interest in the idea.  I'm a physics teacher, but I taught computer science for many years.  (I'd love to teach Game Development with C++ or Java, but that's not going to happen in a miniterm!)


Thanks.  I really would appreciate suggestions!


Charlie Payne, M.Ed.
Teacher of Physics
St. Catherine's School
Richmond, VA
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