The "Collaborative Research (RUI): Broadening the Use of Computer Games in the Computer Science Curriculum" project is developing a Java-based game engine to support student development of game related projects in undergraduate computer science courses.
Intellectual Merit: This project addresses two distinct components of the CCLI program's STEM education model: it is adapting Laird and Jamin's C++ game engine developed under NSF contract 0231325 to develop a new Java-based 2D game engine and creating a set of six curricular modules to teach fundamental computing concepts within the context of game construction.
Broader Impact: The project is disseminating their results through presentations at both regional and national conferences as well as an active online project forum. They are supporting an unique online repository for sharing game related curricular materials between institutions. The repository is enabling both instructors to share curricular modules, and students to share visually appealing projects. Finally, through instructor training sessions held in conjunction with the Center for Youth Workforce Preparation, they are impacting computer science education at local high schools.
