Video Game Design with Java is a project-based course designed for high school students with prior experience in computer programming. It is recommended that students have already completed introductory or foundational level programming coursework and have at least some prior background in one or more object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, Python, or JavaScript. In this course, students will learn to strategize, design, and develop video games. Students will learn about the life cycles of project and software development and use models to develop games. The course makes use of Greenfoot game engine software and the Java programming language.
Prerequisites: This course is designed for high school students with some previous background (i.e., completion of at least one semester of coursework, preferably two) in object-oriented programming, including Java, before attempting this more advanced level course.
Course Objectives: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
- Describe the software application life cycle and use a prototype development model to develop applications
- Design and develop applications using object-oriented programming techniques
- Design, develop, and implement accessible and usable interfaces, and assess user engagement in applications
- Use and implement different digital representations of media
- Evaluate an application design in terms of meeting privacy needs, legal and intellectual property requirements, and security considerations
Course Outline:
Unit 1 - Software Development Cycle
Unit 2 - Programs Used to Design Games
Unit 3 - Creating Games and Apps
Unit 4 - Creating Specific Game Components
Unit 5 - Scenario Ideas and Programming Concepts
Resources Included: Online lesson instruction and activities, opportunities to engage with a certified, online instructor and classmates, when appropriate, and online assessments to measure student performance of course objectives and readiness for subsequent academic pursuits.
Additional Costs: None
Scoring System: Michigan Virtual does not assign letter grades, grant credit for courses, nor issue diplomas. A final score out of total points earned will be submitted to your school mentor for conversion to their own letter grading system.
Time Commitment: Semester sessions are 18-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1 or more hours per day in the course to be successful. Summer sessions are 10 weeks long: Students must be able to spend a minimum of 2 or more hours per day, or about 90 hours during the summer, for the student to be successful in any course. Trimester sessions are 12-weeks long: Students must be able to spend 1.5 or more hours per day in the course to be successful.
Technology Requirements: Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Students will need to be able to download and use:
- Greenfoot Download Page
- Java Development Kit (Download the latest available version; See "Installation Instructions" specific to your Windows or Mac device type)
- A desktop or laptop running Windows or MacOS is required for the course. Chromebooks are not capable of running all of the necessary applications.
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/
Instructor Support System: For technical issues within your course, contact the Customer Care Center by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Instructor Contact Expectations: Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Academic Support Available: In addition to access to a highly qualified, Michigan certified teacher, students have access to academic videos and outside resources verified by Michigan Virtual. For technical issues within the course, students can contact the Michigan Virtual Customer Care by email at [email protected] or by phone at (888) 889-2840.
Required Assessment: Online assessments consist of formative and summative assessments represented by computer-graded multiple choice, instructor-graded writing assignments including hands-on projects, model building and other forms of authentic assessments.
Technical Skills Needed: Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to:
- Download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
- Download and install software
- Use a messaging service similar to email
- Communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
- Open attachments shared in messages
- Create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
- Edit file share settings in cloud-based applications, such as Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- Save a file as a .pdf
- Copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
- Insert images or links into a file or html editor
- Search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
- Work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
- Activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
- Use presentation and graphics programs
- Follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
- Use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
- Create and maintain usernames and passwords
Additional Information: This course contains unique prerequisites and technical requirements. Please review the relevant syllabus fields for more details.