Better Learning Through Gaming
Scott Leutenegger teaches students how to design video games that will make a differece in the world.
In Scott Leutenegger's classes, students use a cross-disciplinary approach to designing video games, mixing science with the arts, business and creative thinking. The approach often results in video games that encourage learning and motivate students to explore their classroom subjects.
In short, the games are much more than entertainment.
Leutenegger, who heads DU's computer game development program, encourages his students to look beyond computer coding and conceptualize artwork and develop engaging storylines. He even challenges them to design games that can make a difference in the world.
"That's where America's next path lies, where we can think creatively and from a lot of different areas," Leutenegger says.
Leutenegger also works with Education Adjunct Professor Debra Austin and Art Associate Professor Rafael Fajardo on an annual summer camp to encourage high school students to explore science and art through computer games.
And this past summer, he added a session to the camp for high school teachers to expose them to the program and encourage them to get their students excited about math, science and art.
For the benefit of all students
Fajardo commends Leutenegger's willingness to combine science and art, as well as his classroom style, which goes beyond traditional lectures.
"This is an act of courage, and marks an openness to personal growth in the classroom," Fajardo says. "Scott is exploring and adapting methods from other fields—specifically design fields—to develop appropriate teaching strategies for game development."
For Leutenegger and his colleagues, the next step will be to develop a game-design curriculum that can be distributed to high school and middle school teachers to help them engage the next generation of students in thinking across academic disciplines.
"The idea of putting this into the schools, I think that's where the big opportunity will come," Leutenegger says. "We could hand them this curriculum and the books and make it totally free."
For his efforts, Leutenegger received the University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in September 2007.
Published on Feb. 14,2008