Oh holy shit how did this happen - The SimBen becomes a gaming teacher thread

SimBen

I just got the following e-mail from one of the more awesome teachers I've had in Cegep (an intermediary college between high school and university up here in Quebec).

Awesome Teacher wrote:

Hello SimBen,

Do you think you could teach "Introduction to the field of videogames" for first-semester 3D animation students?

I think you have what it takes, but are you interested? The class begins pretty soon.

Keep in touch,
Awesome Teacher

I'm like what. WHAT.

Holy crap guys I have no training to be a teacher, hell I don't even have any kind of degree yet, and I just got offered a job as a vidjagames teacher out of the fucking blue.

HOW DO I PROCEED FROM HERE

(okay, kind of a rhethorical question, considering I already sent a reply mostly consisting of "OH MY GOD YES I WANT YOUR BABIES")

MistaCreepy

Talk to the students completely in L337 speak.

Zombiemambo

If you know what you're doing and you're patient with the students, being a teacher isn't very hard. Just make sure you understand that not everyone learns at the same speed, and some people will struggle more than others. If you're patient with them and help them through it you should be fine.

Retarded_Turkey

Take a shot at it man. Whats the worst that could happen?

Italax

Walk into the class with a copy of E.T for the Atari and smash it with a hammer.

The_Scarab

Questions:

What exactly is your current job in the games industry?

What training have you had?

Is it a paying position or more of a stand in thing. For example, I spent a few weeks teaching at my sisters school where she teaches while she was on holiday.

InfestedGnome

Can you just play video games all day?

PiptheFair

Do nothing but espouse the greatness of Daikatana.

Xenogears of Bore

Whatever you do, don't teach them to play RPGs like you play Chrono Trigger.

RAWR, FISTS GOOD! MAGIC BAD! SIMBEN SMASH!

Woggle

Retarded_Turkey wrote: »

Whats the worst that could happen?

Now you've gone and doomed him to some crazy shit happening on his first day.

galenblade

I once applied to teach a videogame history course at an "experimental" college. As I was in grad school at the time, I couldn't devote much time to the application and ended up bombing during the interview.

If you're going to do it, start thinking syllabus and book list. Those are going to be the cornerstones of the class you teach, and you can make lesson plans around those.

Xenogears of Bore

PiptheFair wrote: »

Do nothing but espouse the greatness of Daikatana.

Design is law, afterall.

SimBen

The_Scarab wrote: »

Questions:

What exactly is your current job in the games industry?

Former QA tester. That's it.

What training have you had?

As a teacher? None ever.

Is it a paying position or more of a stand in thing. For example, I spent a few weeks teaching at my sisters school where she teaches while she was on holiday.

Seems to be for summer classes, based on his "Class begins soon" comment.

Thing is, I'd already built up kind of a relationship with that particular teacher which all started when he sort of singled me out as "the gamer" in our class (even though I'm far from being the only one) and took me out to lunch once so I could give him a quick briefing and answer a few questions considering he was spearheading a new videogames program at the school. Essentially, the one asset I'd have (and which he seems to be counting on) is that encyclopedic knowledge of games I've been carrying around for all these years.

But teaching a class? Man I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Zombiemambo

Please recite the 7 commandments of game creation. Quite a few developers need to read/hear it, too.

Triple B

Xenogears of Bore wrote: »

PiptheFair wrote: »

Do nothing but espouse the greatness of Daikatana.

Design is law, afterall.

Epic poast.

The_Scarab

SimBen wrote: »

The_Scarab wrote: »

Questions:

What exactly is your current job in the games industry?

Former QA tester. That's it.

What training have you had?

As a teacher? None ever.

Is it a paying position or more of a stand in thing. For example, I spent a few weeks teaching at my sisters school where she teaches while she was on holiday.

Seems to be for summer classes, based on his "Class begins soon" comment.

Thing is, I'd already built up kind of a relationship with that particular teacher which all started when he sort of singled me out as "the gamer" in our class (even though I'm far from being the only one) and took me out to lunch once so I could give him a quick briefing and answer a few questions considering he was spearheading a new videogames program at the school. Essentially, the one asset I'd have (and which he seems to be counting on) is that encyclopedic knowledge of games I've been carrying around for all these years.

But teaching a class? Man I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Do it. Seriously.

from what you have said it sounds like it would be a fucking great time.

schmads

It might not seem that this relates, but your Let's Plays are entertaining, and a teacher who is even a little bit fun to listen to is appreciated. Your encyclopedic knowledge is good, if you can figure out how to bring it into play.

A syllabus and book list have already been mentioned. Start thinking about how you might structure the class. Would you want to do gaming in some sort of chronological order? Would you rather break it up by game genres? If you do either of these, you'll want to remember to push yourself to discuss games that are important, even if you don't like them. Daikatana, hey, that may be important, because you can say "look, don't do this, you'll end up looking like a douche."

Also, talk to the teacher about your reservations. He's been there, and may have good general advice, even though he doesn't know games. His trust in offering this to you should give you some confidence, too

LoveIsUnity

I'm a college professor, and I'd be glad to help you out. Send me a PM.

Daedalus

What kind of students are you teaching? If you're teaching CS majors, you're going to need to go into detail on the back-end of things (game engines, the 3D rendering pipeline, DirectX/OpenGL, etc.), whereas if you're teaching, I dunno, people learning 3D animation, you're going to need to teach a different set of stuff (texture/alpha/normal/specular mapping, level design, etc).

Just make sure not to turn it into a "history and appreciation of games" wankfest. Unless it's a 1 or 2 credit course, in which case, go wild.

SimBen

schmads wrote: »

It might not seem that this relates, but your Let's Plays are entertaining, and a teacher who is even a little bit fun to listen to is appreciated. Your encyclopedic knowledge is good, if you can figure out how to bring it into play.

A syllabus and book list have already been mentioned. Start thinking about how you might structure the class. Would you want to do gaming in some sort of chronological order? Would you rather break it up by game genres? If you do either of these, you'll want to remember to push yourself to discuss games that are important, even if you don't like them. Daikatana, hey, that may be important, because you can say "look, don't do this, you'll end up looking like a douche."

Also, talk to the teacher about your reservations. He's been there, and may have good general advice, even though he doesn't know games. His trust in offering this to you should give you some confidence, too

Yeah... to paraphrase my reply, "Hahaha, wow. I did not expect this. I'm kind of shell-shocked right now. Let me breathe for a few moments... okay. Yes. Yes I would like that. I don't have a single clue what it's like to be a teacher, but totally and unequivocally yes."

The weirdest thing I think is that the teachers I have right now would suddenly become my co-workers. They're all essentially my parents' age, the youngest in the department is in his early 30s. Man I'd have a cubicle next to them and everything? That's just CRAZY talk coming from a MADMAN!

Oh god oh god.

SimBen

I just realized that when I go in my own videogame program for a bachelor's next fall... I'll have an intro to videogames class.

I should just walk up to the teacher and say "Hi, I'm an intro to videogames teacher" and then just ask him to grade my syllabus.

noir_blood

Do it.

That seems like such an awesome thing to do. Just thinking about it makes me want to draw up syllabus(es?)

SimBen

The teacher just sent me a syllabus draft (since it's so short-notice he's already pretty much got the whole thing planned). It seems like it'll be pretty much a sweeping view of the game industry, the major players, some game history, explaining game types and target audiences and the game-making process.

I could talk about this shit for 3 hours without any notes, easy. Hell, it's what I do on here. This is so fucking great.

ASimPerson

Well, do have notes and such, though. You should have a plan for each individual lecture.

I'm sure you realize this, but still.

SimBen

Yeah I know I know. I've only ever had one teacher who came in class without anything but a piece of chalk and he was this crazy math teacher who was so good at math he just created problems and stuff out of his mind and improvised right there on the blackboard and it was really crazy to see him go.

But yeah. Not gonna do that. :P

Impersonator

Italax wrote: »

Walk into the class with a copy of E.T for the Atari and smash it with a hammer.

This. Videogames 101.

Schide

So you're gonna have like a whole class period focusing on Chrono Trigger, right?

SimBen

Schide wrote: »

So you're gonna have like a whole class period focusing on Chrono Trigger, right?

Seems the class will be a little too wide in scope to really focus on particular games for any length of time... but I'll make sure to mention it when I explain what an RPG is. :P

Schide

SimBen wrote: »

Schide wrote: »

So you're gonna have like a whole class period focusing on Chrono Trigger, right?

Seems the class will be a little too wide in scope to really focus on particular games for any length of time... but I'll make sure to mention it when I explain what an RPG is. :P

Well at the very least you could show a few video clips...I have a good idea where you could get them!

But yeah, this sounds pretty damn cool, congrats.

SimBen

Impersonator wrote: »

Italax wrote: »

Walk into the class with a copy of E.T for the Atari and smash it with a hammer.

This. Videogames 101.

*SMASH*

"BAD.

See you next week."

LewieP

That is an amazing job. Congratulations.

Pjstelford

SimBen wrote: »

The teacher just sent me a syllabus draft (since it's so short-notice he's already pretty much got the whole thing planned). It seems like it'll be pretty much a sweeping view of the game industry, the major players, some game history, explaining game types and target audiences and the game-making process.

I could talk about this shit for 3 hours without any notes, easy. Hell, it's what I do on here. This is so fucking great.

Have notes, and realize that while everyone may learn at different speeds, it is entirely okay to ask a student to hold questions until after class if they're taking an obscene amount of class time catching up.

Impersonator

SimBen wrote: »

Impersonator wrote: »

Italax wrote: »

Walk into the class with a copy of E.T for the Atari and smash it with a hammer.

This. Videogames 101.

*SMASH*

"BAD.

See you next week."

Don't even get started on Phoenix Games

Ampix

Wow, congratulations, that seems like a lot of fun. Make sure to mention the console wars, and how the momentum has shifted over time!



You'll continue your Let's Play right... right!??

SimBen

Ampix wrote: »

Wow, congratulations, that seems like a lot of fun. Make sure to mention the console wars, and how the momentum has shifted over time!



You'll continue your Let's Play right... right!??

Of course I will.

I'll also make sure to have a debate about the Zelda timeline and insist that omg guys teh haloz are so the best amirite.

No I won't.

Ampix

SimBen wrote: »

Ampix wrote: »

Wow, congratulations, that seems like a lot of fun. Make sure to mention the console wars, and how the momentum has shifted over time!



You'll continue your Let's Play right... right!??

Of course I will.

I'll also make sure to have a debate about the Zelda timeline and insist that omg guys teh haloz are so the best amirite.

No I won't.

DarkPrimus

I wonder what the class would entail, but from the sound of the title, I would think it would be something like an "Introduction to Film" class.

Alexander

Please please please walk into your first class in character as FPS Doug


Boom headshot students!

that can be your response when they get a question right!

I want you as my teacher even though I am too old now

Fiziks

I can't believe this is even a class.



Question 1.

Discuss, citing multiple games with game-specific examples, the multilayer viability of the Nintendo 64 console.


Question 2.

Explain John Gabriel's Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory citing at least three(3) specific in-game examples from three(3) separate games.

Blackjack

SimBen wrote: »

Ampix wrote: »

Wow, congratulations, that seems like a lot of fun. Make sure to mention the console wars, and how the momentum has shifted over time!



You'll continue your Let's Play right... right!??

Of course I will.

I'll also make sure to have a debate about the Zelda timeline and insist that omg guys teh haloz are so the best amirite.

No I won't.

That's the final, right there.

SimBen

Well after meeting with said teacher he gave me a few pointers... I'll have to touch up my resumé (get the shitty clerk jobs off of that thing), write a letter and go to a committee interview... why does that look like some people behind high desks in the dark and me standing in the middle in a beam of light in my head?

I'll have to wear a tie.

I'll have to buy a tie.