Developing a Text-based MMORPG to Motivate Students in CS1

Contents

We present the outline of a class project in which entry-level students in our CS1 course spent a full day developing a text-based massively multi-player online role-playing game (MMORPG) using Scheme. We describe briefly our CS1 course, the specifics of the game we asked students to implement, and the project organization. Comments from the students about their experience are also presented. Most students felt that the project was a beneficial learning experience. The project was organized as part of a larger multi-year effort to increase student learning and student participation. Class performance shows that more students have completed the course and have obtained higher grades than in the past, providing support to the educational value of this project and the other active learning opportunities we have used during the semester.