LAST: Stumbling Blocks of Higher Education and the Fourth Bullet
This is part of a series of same titled blogs that focus on the teaching of gaming above the high school level. As a professor who taught (and sometimes still teaches) gaming, I’ll share my perspective on the pros and cons. I’m going to try to go in depth on what to expect and what we shouldn’t. I also will answer common questions by students and prospective companies who wish to hire. I teach at community colleges in the United States, so my experience may differ from other parts of the world. Take my opinion for what it is: the most authoritative. No, just kidding, but I wouldn’t mind hearing any opinions for or against my own.
Stumbling Blocks of Higher Education:
- Too much to teach
- The Computer Science Problem
- How does it fit in with the rest of college?
- Advanced topics
- Industry standards
Upon seeing and discussing the weaknesses, this might be a simple remedy:
The issue is that there are not many places that offer a full range of degrees. If you go to get a graduate degree to help you in gaming, chances are that it will be more about business aspects or something less concrete in scope. Oddly it is easier to make a new department for game making at the Bachelor’s or Associate’s level, but not above that. Over those two beginning degrees, you might get a degree in Digital Design or something similar where they may only touch on parts of gaming.
The lack of a full, dedicated department is counterproductive since I think there is a definite need. Maybe these can be worked into other departments as concentrations. I’m sure they’d be happy to do so. Who doesn’t like to have a dalliance in gaming? However, that is where it stops. The other mainstream departments usually won’t devote themselves to something as seemingly puerile as game making. They are missing out. Overall, I think companies would be much more appreciative of a student who they could hire who has a full set of graduate accomplishments.
NEXT: Questions and Complaints on Education that I received as Professor
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