MIT 517 – Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds
3 Credits
Watson School of Education
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Professor: Dr. Raymond Pastore
Email: pastorer@uncw.edu
Office: EB 339
Class Time: M – 5:30 – 8:00
Classroom: EB 368 and/or Webex
Office Hours: TBA
Course Description
The course uses a hands-on approach to explore the process of designing
games, simulations, and virtual environments for teaching and learning. Students
will analyze the design and use of the commercial games and simulations to
identify their technical, practical, and pedagogical limitations. A variety of game
engine software and various methodologies for building and evaluating gaming
models will be explored. Students will design games and role playing/simulations.
Prerequisites
MIT 500 must be completed
Course Goals
- Students will analyze the literature to identify key characteristics of games and
simulations.
- Students will analyze commercial games and simulations to identify their key
characteristics and their technical, practical, and pedagogical limitations.
Students will generate design specifications for an educational game or role
playing/simulation.
- Students will analyze instructional game and simulation theories to apply them
to the games developed in class.
- Students will analyze game engine software to identify their key characteristics
and their technical, practical, and pedagogical limitations.
- Students will develop storyboards to illustrate the game and/or simulation
concepts.
Students will develop a rubric to evaluate education games and simulation.
- Students will design a simple game and/or simulation.
- Students will utilize various game engine software to develop games to
demonstrate basic game and programming concepts.
Course Website
http://learn.uncw.edu
Required Supplies
Will be discussed but includes several books and gaming software.
Ready Player One - A fiction book. It can be purchased here for less
than $10 - http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Clineebook/dp/B004J4WKUQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420565429&sr=81&keywords=ready+player+one
Class Assignments and the Class Schedule:
Information about class assignments and the class schedule is updated weekly
as the course progresses and is NOT included in this syllabus. YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE for checking the class web page on a weekly basis to learn
about future assignments and the class schedule.
Quests + Achievement
Badges
Simple Game (individual)
Game Development
Project (Group)
Game Design Project
(Individual)
Book Review (Group)
Published book review
Experience Points
10
25
Due Date (subject to
change)
See Schedule
See Schedule
25
See Schedule
10
10
See Schedule
See Schedule
Rubric (individual)
10
Ready Player One Project 5
Reflection (individual)
5
See Schedule
See Schedule
See Schedule
Class Ranks and Final Grades
Rank
Master Gamer
General
Onyx
Experience Points
93.5 - 100
90.0 - 93.4
86.5 -89.9
Letter Grade
A
AB+
Gold
Silver
83.5 –86.4
80.0 - 83.4
B
B-
Captain
Copper
Squire
Beginner Hero
Corporal
Private
Apprentice
Recruit
76.5 - 79.9
C+
73.5 – 76.4
70.0 – 73.4
60-69
50-59
40-49
25-39
0-25
C
C-
If you come to class after roll was taken, it is your responsibility to inform me that
you were present. I take roll in the beginning of class so if you are late, please
make sure you see me after class to ensure I didn’t mark you absent. If you miss
class, it is your responsibility to obtain class notes.
Note: It doesn’t matter if your absence is excused or not, the above policy stands
regardless.
Academic Honesty and Integrity
From the Faculty Handbook:
I. THE UNCW STUDENT ACADEMIC HONOR CODE
The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community of high academic
standards where academic integrity is valued. UNCW students are committed to
honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of
knowledge. This commitment begins when new students matriculate at UNCW,
continues as they create work of the highest quality while part of the university
community, and endures as a core value throughout their lives.
II. THE UNCW HONOR PLEDGE
All students enrolled at UNCW are subject to the UNCW Student Academic
Honor Code (hereafter referred to as the Honor Code), which is intended to help
every member of the UNCW community appreciate the high value placed on
academic integrity and the means that will be employed to ensure its
preservation. Students are expected to perpetuate a campus culture where each
student does his or her own work while relying on appropriate resources for
assistance. In such a climate students enjoy a special trust that they are
members of a unique community where one’s thoughts and words are attributed
correctly and with proper ownership, and where there is little need for systems to
sanction those who cheat. As such, all UNCW students shall commit to the
principles and spirit of the Honor Code by adhering to the following pledge:
“As a student at The University of North Carolina Wilmington, I am committed
to honesty and truthfulness in academic inquiry and in the pursuit of
knowledge. I pledge to uphold and promote the UNCW Student Academic Honor
Code.”
*Please see Policy 04.100 in the faculty handbook for more information:
http://www.uncw.edu/fac_handbook/responsibilities/teaching/honor%20code.html
*Students caught cheating in any way will automatically fail the course.
Disability Access Statement
Please see Policy 04.190 in the faculty handbook for information on UNCW’s
policy.