Learn Programming with XNA: Curriculum Available Now

[Alfred Thompson [MSFT]]

I get asked about curriculum available for XNA on a pretty regular basis.
I’ve been linking to a lot of stuff that is available in parts and pieces and
even more complete things like Brian Scarbeau’s great XNA educational
resource page. (http://sws.lhps.org/XNAforstudents/tabid/347/Default.aspx)
And Kelvin Sung’s Game-Themed Introductory Programming Project.
(http://depts.washington.edu/cmmr/Research/XNA_Games/index.php) Microsoft
just added another piece at the puzzle with a curriculum titled Learn
Programming with XNA.
(http://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/pfv.aspx?ID=7992)

Overview

"Getting Started Making Games with C# and XNA Game Studio" is a programming
course for senior high school or undergraduate students with no prior
programming experience. It is intended to engage students with the craft of
programming by the creation of gameplay using the XNA game framework.

Whilst the students will learn how to create games, the course should really
be regarded as one which teaches programming. All of the issues that are
explored are also applicable in the wider scheme of software development.

Presentations are provided as part of the learning materials. The
presentations are grouped into a number of topic based parts with a practical
session to underpin the taught content. Each presentation is interspersed
with demonstrations and annotated with speaker notes, as well as content
review sessions.

The material is intended to foster a dialogue between the presenter and the
audience; in some places the presenter is given some discussion points to
further this. There are also some "interactive development" sections where
presenter and audience use what they have been taught so far to solve a
particular problem. These attempts (and their occasional failure) lead to
more detailed exposition of the material and hopefully remind those present
that having things not work is actually part of the software development
experience.

The whole package includes demos, labs/projects, PowerPoint presentations
and teacher notes. Lots of stuff in there. If you are thinking about a game
development course take a look.
http://www.facultyresourcecenter.com/curriculum/pfv.aspx?ID=7992

And there are more curriculum resources available on a variety of CS topics
at the Pre-Collegiate Faculty Connection site including a dynamite
standards-based Web Design curriculum. Take a look around.
http://www.microsoft.com/education/facultyconnection/bz/default.aspx?c1=en-bz&c2=BZ