Socratic Method Case Study: The Impact on the Strong and Weak Student

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SEA 07 November 2007 Cambridge, MA
Complex Game Development A Case Study in Rapid
Software Development By Novice Programmers
Tom Goulding M.S., Ph.D Chairman, Division of
Computer Science, Information Systems, Gaming
Robotics
Daniel Webster College 20 University Drive
Nashua, New Hampshire 03063
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How Do We Prepare Students for Success?

Dominant In My Classroom
Lectures Examinations Laboratory Skill
Demonstrations Modest Knowledge
Absorption Delayed Application Research
Papers Presentations Individual Performance
Dominant in My Workplace
Independent Study No Examinations Massive
Knowledge Assimilation Immediate Application of
Knowledge Complex Problem Solving Teamwork
-Teamwork -Teamwork
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Can it be Done? A Classroom methodology that
emulates Professional life of scientists and
engineers

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The GM-Method
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Rapid Application Development Tools Of The The
GM-method
1. GM-Games --- Knowledge Assimilation and
Technology Mastery GM_Game Specification
Executable GM _CHRS Clues, Hints, Resources
and Scoring 2. GM-Matrix Tight Schedule
Management Assessment Matrix 3.
GM-Philosophy No Lectures, No Examinations, No
Code Demonstrations
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Backroom DB Server Casino Floor Control
Freshman CS2
Player DB
Login Game Selection
Log Events
Backroom Control Terminate Player Chat with
Player Modify Assets Change Password
Chat Window Casino Manager To Players
Multi-Client Game Play
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The Evolution
2003
2004
2007
2008?
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XNA Aurora Sector
GM-Games Learning
Programming as a Game
E-Games Require no Teacher
Programming Requires no Teacher E-Games Require
Skill Programming
Requires Skill E-Games Only Requires Clues
Programming Only Requires Clues
E-Game Players Search for Solutions
Programmers Search for Solutions E-Game
Players Love multiplayer Programmers
Love to Collaborate E-Games are Scored
Programming is Scored
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A GM-Pascals Triangle Game
Game Specification
The Game Executable
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A GM-Cellular Automaton Game
The Game Executable
GM-CHRS Clues, Hints, Resources, Scoring
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Week 1
Immediate Rapid Application Of Advanced
Concepts
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Week 3
Immediate Logic Challenges
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Week 8 GM-Whirl Game
Week 6 GM-Dice Game
CS1 GM-Games
Visual Artistic Difficult Game Preparatory
Week 10 GM-Chaos Game
Week 13 GM-Pixel Collision
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CS2 GM-Games
GM-Dice (Flicker)
GM-Roulette (Physics)
GM-Slots (Graphics)
GM-Login (Shared Buffer)
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GM-Casino Manager
Server Side Account Management Client Control
Two Weeks To Master Relational
DB ADO.NET TCP/IP Log Files Packet
Parsing Sockets
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SCHEDULE ADHERENCE THE ASSESSMENT
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Schedule Management The Assessment Matrix
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STUDENT QUOTES Opinions
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Student Opinions
Motivation and Effort
Effort Expended more to much more 75 Learning
more to much more 75 Liked focusing on real
product 72
Content Mastery
Material Very Useful 87.5 Absorbed great
quantities of Knowledge 63.5
Self Confidence
Increased Confidence learning new
concepts 100 Increased Confidence toward team
contribution 100
Teamwork
Improved ability to explain ideas to
Teammates 100
Assessment
Worked hard without tests 100
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Student Quotes
I would estimate that I spent an average of at
least twenty-five hours a week, outside of class,
working on the ltLimehouse Casino Systemgt project.
In my eyes, the GM-Method (game motif method) is
an extremely effective solution for beginner
programmers. P. Sylvester
2007 Personally, I thought this whole thing
was going to be impossible. But it turned out to
be very doable, and I enjoyed the process very
much. G. Tolley 2007 In a three and
half month time frame we were expected to develop
out of thin air a working game . To say the
least it was a daunting task, one even the most
optimistic of us, did not believe achievable.
The class gave many of us the faith that we
could achieve great things in computer science.
J. Pirie 2004 This was a very daunting
task since none of us had used the technology
required to create such an application and none
of us had worked in a team on a technical project
In addition to the great learning experience,
completing such an overwhelming task was a very
substantial boost to my self confidence. I took
on the attitude that if I can accomplish such a
large goal without any prior experience, I could
accomplish any project or learn any skill.
M. Peterson, 2003
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Other Reactions and Expressions
We had to abandon Professor Gouldings Ideas. I
never want to learn this way again. I learned
much less. I just need this course to graduate.
Thank you Tom Goulding