Comments on: Starcraft for Credit?

By: Richard Yeh

Richard Yeh — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:56:22 +0000

DeCal sounds like the Experimental College at UC Davis, an ‘alternative’ program unaffiliated with the university itself for teaching courses from martial arts to dance to DJing. A Davis student once started a Super Smash Bros. Melee class here.

Big whoop.

By: Alan Au

Alan Au — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:25:06 +0000

FYI, here is David Sirlin’s report on the first class session:
http://www.sirlin.net/blog/2009/1/30/uc-berkeley-starcraft-class-week-1.html

By: Troy

Troy — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:10:36 +0000

Bruce: I linked to one of their good syllabi by mistake. Changed it to an intro Math syllabus that really keeps things simple.

By: jinstevens

jinstevens — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:30:04 +0000

Awesome debunk, Troy! You’ve gained a new reader.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:12:31 +0000

I have a question: you linked to a Berkeley syllabus about forestry as an example of some terrible syllabus-izing. What exactly is wrong with the thing you linked?

By: Alan Au

Alan Au — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:01:52 +0000

To clarify, I have no problem with the class itself, and I think there are definitely lessons to be learned about the gameplay mechanics and strategic decisions (e.g. the value of recon and tempo).

My complaint is with the course description (which I believe overpromises) and with the implication that this is somehow pioneering the use of games in academia.