Developing a Text-Developing a Text-Based MMORPG to Based MMORPG to

Motivate Students in Motivate Students in CS1CS1

Richard Barnes and Maria GiniRichard Barnes and Maria Gini

Dept of CSE, University of Dept of CSE, University of MinnesotaMinnesota

OutlineOutline

Our CS1 CourseOur CS1 Course Educational Objectives of the ProjectEducational Objectives of the Project MMORPG SynopsisMMORPG Synopsis Project Details & AnalysisProject Details & Analysis Student Response and PerformanceStudent Response and Performance Conclusions and Future WorkConclusions and Future Work

Our CS1 CourseOur CS1 Course

Predominantly freshmenPredominantly freshmen Typically 120-130 students/semesterTypically 120-130 students/semester Does not assume any prior programming Does not assume any prior programming

experienceexperience Based on Scheme with some material on Based on Scheme with some material on

PythonPython Part of a three-year project to improve Part of a three-year project to improve

learning in large classes by using active learning in large classes by using active learning and group activitieslearning and group activities

Student backgroundStudent background

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

freshmansophomorejuniorseniorgraduateother

Year in School0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%

Major

CSCEUndecidedOther

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Why Taking this Course

requiredan optioninterestother

Student programming Student programming backgroundbackground

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Programming LanguagesKnown

noneonetwothreefourfivesixseven 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Where learned

High SchoolCollegeSelfTaughtOthers

Educational Objectives of Educational Objectives of ProjectProject

Resolve tension between willing and doingResolve tension between willing and doing Open-ended, hands-on programmingOpen-ended, hands-on programming Solving complex real world problemsSolving complex real world problems Apply learningApply learning

Working in groups with a significant amount of autonomyWorking in groups with a significant amount of autonomy Developing strong collaboration skillsDeveloping strong collaboration skills

Address issues of recruiting and retention in CSAddress issues of recruiting and retention in CS

MMORPG SynopsisMMORPG Synopsis

MMORPGs (massively multi-player MMORPGs (massively multi-player online role-playing games)online role-playing games)

== A persistent world wherein players A persistent world wherein players

develop a character through develop a character through interactions with other characters interactions with other characters and the world’s environmentand the world’s environment

Known in their text-based form as Known in their text-based form as MUDs, MUCKS, or MU*sMUDs, MUCKS, or MU*s

telnet aalynors_nexus.maelstorm.com 2000telnet aalynors_nexus.maelstorm.com 2000Name: JoeName: JoePassword: ******Password: ******

You are standing in an open meadow.You are standing in an open meadow.Fred is standing by you.Fred is standing by you.Exits: north, south, east, west, and sewer.Exits: north, south, east, west, and sewer.

Fred says, “Joe, come fight foul monsters with me Fred says, “Joe, come fight foul monsters with me in pursuit of everlasting glory.”in pursuit of everlasting glory.”

You say, “Ok.”You say, “Ok.”

Fred climbs down into the sewer.Fred climbs down into the sewer.You follow Fred down into the sewer.You follow Fred down into the sewer.

A rush of rancid air rushes up to meet you. (HP -1)A rush of rancid air rushes up to meet you. (HP -1)It is too dark to see.It is too dark to see.You light a torch.You light a torch.You are standing in a dank tunnel with a slimy floor.You are standing in a dank tunnel with a slimy floor.Fred and a foul monster are standing by you.Fred and a foul monster are standing by you.There are no obvious exits.There are no obvious exits.

The foul monster attacks Fred!The foul monster attacks Fred!You wield your sword.You wield your sword.You attack the foul monster, slashing it.You attack the foul monster, slashing it.The monster kicks you. (HP -3)The monster kicks you. (HP -3)Fred slashes the monster.Fred slashes the monster.The monster dies, dropping a sack of loot.The monster dies, dropping a sack of loot.XP +4XP +4

Why use an MMORPG in Why use an MMORPG in CS1?CS1?

Fun and interesting material Fun and interesting material encourages majoring in CSencourages majoring in CS

Students think that Scheme has Students think that Scheme has limited value, the MMORPG disproves limited value, the MMORPG disproves this.this.

Familiar game conceptFamiliar game concept Provides outlets for all skill levelsProvides outlets for all skill levels Everyone can playEveryone can play

Details on ProjectDetails on Project

Optional project, with minimal credit Optional project, with minimal credit for participantsfor participants

Pre-project discussion of themes, Pre-project discussion of themes, meeting times, design considerationsmeeting times, design considerations

A full day of design and programmingA full day of design and programming Design and code the game in Design and code the game in

Scheme from scratch, with limited Scheme from scratch, with limited help and guidancehelp and guidance

Analysis of projectAnalysis of project Leadership Leadership

– team leadership developed spontaneouslyteam leadership developed spontaneously A single day A single day

– not enough time to complete the projectnot enough time to complete the project– kept students focused & excitedkept students focused & excited

PitfallsPitfalls– Lack of comfort with abstractionsLack of comfort with abstractions– Lack of skeleton codeLack of skeleton code– Some teams were too largeSome teams were too large– Limited inter-team communicationLimited inter-team communication– Lack of familiarity with MMORPGLack of familiarity with MMORPG– BottlenecksBottlenecks

Student Response and Overall Student Response and Overall PerformancePerformance

Student responseStudent response– Enjoyed the experience and learned Enjoyed the experience and learned

from itfrom it– Better understanding of program Better understanding of program

development development – Better appreciation of SchemeBetter appreciation of Scheme– Learned importance of team work and Learned importance of team work and

communicationcommunication– Desired follow-upDesired follow-up

Overall Class PerformanceOverall Class Performance

010

2030

405060

70

A B C D F

Grades received by students

2005

2006

2007

Total number of students2005: 1382006: 1162007: 122

Conclusions and Future Conclusions and Future WorkWork

The project helped student learning The project helped student learning in many aspects (programming, in many aspects (programming, group work, leadership, group work, leadership, communication, etc)communication, etc)

More organization before the project More organization before the project day and some skeleton code will day and some skeleton code will enable greater accomplishmentsenable greater accomplishments

Wiki page available atWiki page available at

https://wiki.umn.edu/view/CsGame1901

For more information emailFor more information email barnes@cs.umn.edu gini@cs.

umn.edu