In 2018, 2019 and 2020, I have taught the Introduction to Game Design undergraduate class at Concordia University, Montreál.
This course is a general introduction to game design theory, analysis and practice. This course’s purpose is to foster an understanding of game design through the interplay of theory (lectures), analysis (game playing), design, and writing.
From the CART 215 syllabus.
A sample course repository, with the syllabus and course contents, is available here.
In July / August 2018, I was one of the mentors at the Critical Hit Parallax summer program at Concordia University, in partnership with Indienova. I taught about game making tools, game design and helped to support students in their game jam projects. From the program’s website:
Critical Hit Parallax is hosted by TAG in collaboration with Indienova – China’s largest indie game portal. In previous years, TAG’s 10-week summer game incubator program, Critical Hit, attracted international attention with its focus on producing innovative experimental games through fast-paced iterative prototyping approaches. Many games from Critical Hit and Critical Hit alumni have gone on to do very well in international festivals such as Indiecade, IGF, Japan Media Arts Festival. As such, Critical Hit is now synonymous with innovative and experimental game creation, and both past and future participants benefit from this reputation as game makers, artists, students, and researchers.
Critical Hit Parallax borrows from the previous model but in a condensed 2 week form, foregrounding the same spirit of exploration with regards to alt/indie/experimental making. Teachers and mentors will be recruited from the game industry in Montreal and TAG/Milieux Research Centre graduate students. The participating international students will be introduced to research-creation culture in Canada, potential graduate studies at Concordia University, and the rich game development ecosystem of Montreal.
From 2014 to 2017, I taught classes about game development at the PUC-Campinas university in Campinas, São Paulo. I started with game engine related classes and later assumed courses in project development, game design and game analysis. I also taught free courses about digital toys and game development. I aimed to bring new repertoires and references, as well as providing open and accessible materials for the students.
From January 2015 to July 2017, I was the course coordinator for the Digital Games course at the PUC-Campinas university. My responsibilities involved both pedagogical coordination between professors, as well as the organization of events, meetings, and helping the administration of teaching staff in general. I was also responsible for proposing new educational activities (such as specific projects for students) and representing the course in different external events.
During 2014, I taught game programming classes at the game development PRONATEC technical course at FIAP (São Paulo, Brazil). In this trade-school one year course, students were focused on becoming junior game developers and programmers.