Transmosis and Workforce Institute challenged SCJCC computer science students to design and launch their own games. Transmosis worked with 9 community colleges, 6 unified school districts, community-based organizations and workforce intermediaries through a grant funded by San Jose-Evergreen City College District’s Workforce Institute.
SAN JOSE, Ca., January 26, 2017 – www.transmosis.com Transmosis Corp. and http://www.wi-sjeccd.org the San José-Evergreen Workforce Institute (WI) recently inspired San José City College (SJCC) computer science students to accelerate their learning with a nine-day game design course. Transmosis spearheaded a regional Silicon Valley team to promote STEM career pathways for college students. This unthinkable feat was the final exam for 10 SJCC gaming students in instructor Angie Hoffman’s Game Design Academy course, which was supported by a state grant.
Technology touches every part of our lives, which is why several organizations partnered to produce a college computer science course that was fun and challenging. The introductory not-for-credit computer science nine-day course was funded through a Silicon Valley Engineering Tech Pathways (SVETP), a California Career Pathways Trust (CCPT) grant lead by the San José-Evergreen Community College District Workforce Institute, in a regional partnership with nine community colleges, six unified school districts, as well as community-based organizations and workforce intermediaries. Tuition was waved through the CCPT grant to promote STEM career pathways.
Producing their game to go live was their milestone and their final exam. Students were required to implement a key component of game design and development – to keep players excited enough to keep playing and keep returning.
The SVETP grant funded STEM career pathways project focuses on three industry sectors and multiple career certifications within each.
Before this course none of the college students expected to be published game developers. The class presented their projects to family, friends, and faculty on “Showcase Day” on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017.
“Those who stuck it (the course) out had a public, live game on Scirra Arcade (an online game arcade),” said Hoffman. One student’s game, “Castle in the Sky” leaped to No. 1 on the site, and in less than one week ranked No. 10 on “Scirra Arcade’s Hot Games” list with 349 plays.
“Every student said, that due to this course they think of games differently, not just as products to consume, but as products to create and technology to improve upon for future users. They have an awareness now of how game concepts have permeated all technology from learning, like Duolingo, to commerce and employment, like Lyft,” commented Hoffman.
Key Statistics from the Game Design Academy Program:
- 10 students started the program. Nine created a game and built it to completion.
- Prior to this class nine out of 10 students did not have prior game design experience.
- 10 out of 10 students felt “much more confident” with technology after the program.
Could there be an extended or advanced game course in the future? “The Gaming Boot camp is within the overall SVETP project design. We are planning initial discussions about next steps for game coding curriculum and/or certification,” explained Lynette Gray, M.Ed., Interim Associate Director of San José-Evergreen Community College District Workforce Institute.
The rest of the day was spent with students learning about the opportunities in STEM Core and Career Pathways, tour the primary SJCC campus, the Technology Building and computer labs, and learning about an upcoming Coding Academy being offered by SJCC.
On the last day, all of the students noted on their evaluations that they would like to continue making games “even as a hobby”, or to teach others who were interested.
About Transmosis
Transmosis www.transmosis.com is an organization founded by Silicon Valley technology entrepreneurs dedicated to the research and application of technology to strengthen the American workforce. Transmosis is a nationally recognized Workforce Intermediary focused on enabling companies to build a pipeline of skilled labor by helping individuals address skill gaps through state and federal training dollars. For more information, visit www.transmosis.com.
About San José – Evergreen Workforce Institute
The San José – Evergreen City College District’s Workforce Institute http://www.wi-sjeccd.org catalyzes opportunity, social justice, and equity in Silicon Valley by promoting economic mobility in our diverse communities, and creating a highly skilled workforce essential for the future competitiveness of Silicon Valley in a global economy. For more information, call (408) 918-5100 or visit http://www.wi-sjeccd.org
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