Ross BrownSchool of Information TechnologyQUT

OR…

What has Immanuel Kant, Weird Al Yankovic, Myth Busters and MC Escher have to do with getting kids excited about Software EngineeringA lot I believeElvis will be also entering the building

Getting Excited about GraphicsMy story…

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Magic!Magic!

QUT Student Work – Elvis Lives!

Getting ExcitedMy continuing story…

Twenty years of teaching Computer GraphicsRelated Research

Graphics Rendering, Visualisation, Virtual WorldsTeach Real-time Rendering in QUT Games DegreeDriven by love of programming

Software EngineeringAn interesting time to be in ICT

Information technology taken a hidingNot many pure Faculties of IT left…ICT Industry still has some demand allowing for GFCGames Industry has suffered too

ICT Image Problems?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xEzGIuY7kw

Maths, Science and EngineeringSimilar issues. Similar answers?

Professors demoing Bernoulli effect with Vacuum CleanerSpent the next three years doing Maths questions“Dry” comes to mind“Necessary” also comes to mind

Myth Busters – Cool Geeks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKK933KK6Gg

Kant and the Sublime

Kant and Computer Graphics

Teaching Computer Graphics is a little easier than some IT areas…like SQL or COBOLVisual beauty is a powerful driverIs an algorithm an opening to the experience of Sublime and/or Beauty?

MC Escher Thought So

Maybe Picasso Too

Scientists See Algorithms in Beauty

Honest Greek

Software as Art?Graphics Software has an element of ArtArt generated from mathematical systemsI tell my students that their job is

Create an enjoyable emotional response in a gameBecause Maths is tough and needs motivation

The Point?!?!?!

Getting students excitedRequires us to be excitedBecause motivation is about human communicationTransmitted by what we call language – spoken and non-spokenI still think teaching is about pointing to higher sublime things in life

Many Leaders Understand

Some Thoughts

Despite my lack of real pedagogical trainingI am a Lecturer after all

Major part is to remove those things that demotivate students and staffWe need to be aware of too much processDon’t be afraid of communicating passion

Lecture or Connect?

Most of my work is performed after the lectures and tutorials talking shopKnowledge earns respectRespect earns respectMy students study this in their own timeIt is said “When the student is ready…”Can also be said “When the teacher is ready…”

High Goals to Operational Methods

How do I get myself ready?Nothing beats a good organised devoted teacherGive students something challenging to doMake it as fun as possible

Programmes at QUT

MS Games and GraphicsMS Xbox LaboratoryBachelor of Games

MS Games and Graphics

Microsoft Kindly funded the development of a Direct3D HLSL Shader Course for Advance Games GraphicsTeach the latest techniques in GPU shader programmingGive them software and demos to create folio pieces for game job applicationsDovetails neatly with previous units theory and practice

Eye Candy Helps

YouTube Channel – to Show Off

Xbox Programme

Have been supported by MS Research Beijing in setting up an Xbox laboratoryStudent exposure to different hardware than PCGives them a feel for console development – XNAPart of a new Studio for Games and Interaction Design for our Games Students -

Games Degree Initiatives

As much industry contact as possibleGuest LecturesIndustry Panels for projects

CompetitionsGame On 48 hour challenges - IGDAPrizes – Games go down a treatImagine Cup and ACM Competitions

Many degree optionsProgramming, animation, design to business, marketing – five Faculties involved

Back to the Basics

Academics must lead from the frontPassion proceeds from us to our studentsGames are interestingBut we must be interesting as well

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