Coming Soon: Torque 3D 1.2 Educational Materials
by Dexter Chow · 11/18/2011 (11:57 am) · 32 comments
The Torque 3D 1.2 goodness continues! The release of educational curriculum for high school/college game development teachers and game dev workshops is almost complete. We are scheduled to release Torque 3D 1.2 Education Materials. These materials will include a syllabus, quizzes and lecture materials. A teacher’s guide is coming soon.
This is really serious stuff for tens of thousands of students. Schools around the world are adding game development programs or adding game classes to their computer science and lab courses. There are few educational materials and technologies that will give students and teachers the right tools to create 3D games in curriculum...until now. Simply put, Torque 3D 1.2 has a goal to set a standard for introductory learning in the areas of 3D art, programming and game design. Now that we have set the goal, how are we getting there? Here are some details about the team behind Torque 3D 1.2 Educational Materials.
As many of you know, Eric Preisz, GarageGames CEO, is a former programming instructor and department chair at Full Sail game program in Florida. His passion for education is evident in his blogs and he is the mastermind behind the Torque 3D 1.2 project.
As some community members may already know, I have an academic background as a former game design instructor at the Art Institute of California, San Francisco. I taught level design, game systems, portfolio I and production classes. I have been squirreled away adapting the great Torque 3D 1.2 work of the Torque Documentation Team (Janet, David, Chris, Geoff and Richard) for teachers to use in their classes.
Janet and Geoff both have extensive instructional experience (Unreal and Microsoft products, respectively) as evident in the Torque 1.2 tutorial you can now use at:
http://www.garagegames.com/products/torque-3d/fps#/1-setup/1
Teachers may take the Torque 3D 1.2 curriculum materials provided free from GarageGames to use in whole or as part of their own curriculum in high school/college computer classes, game development classes and workshops. Any teacher can take these materials and more easily create their game development curriculum and teach their class.
So our release windows are:
Torque 3D Educational Materials Phase 1: End of November
FPS Class Syllabus
13 Class Curriculum PowerPoint Presentations
Quizzes and Labs
Torque 3D Educational Materials Phase 2: End of December
Teacher’s Guide for FPS
Any educators who want to get involved as an Associate to GarageGames, please get in contact with me at:
dexterchow@garagegames.com
Feedback is always welcome at:
Torque in Education forum
Learn more about educational lab licensing and full version instructor evaluation licenses at:
www.garagegames.com/education
Evaluate the free Torque 3D tutorial materials and 1.2 demo at:
www.garagegames.com/products/torque-3d/fps
About the author
Designer, Producer and Business Development Manager
#2
As for general T3D owners - unless you want that "back to school" classroom experience of being graded and provided specific direction on homework assignments - there is no additional information or subjects that you don't already have access to in the tutorial lessons.
If you want to take the quizzes though you can email them to me and Ill be happy to grade them LOL!
11/18/2011 (12:45 pm)
@Luis - Dexter has put together a terrific curriculum that will allow schools to essentially "plug and play" the 1.2 tutorials into a full semester course complete with homework assignments, quizzes, and a full syllabus.As for general T3D owners - unless you want that "back to school" classroom experience of being graded and provided specific direction on homework assignments - there is no additional information or subjects that you don't already have access to in the tutorial lessons.
If you want to take the quizzes though you can email them to me and Ill be happy to grade them LOL!
#3
GL in that race.
11/18/2011 (12:48 pm)
"Torque 3D 1.2 has a goal to set a standard for introductory learning in the areas of 3D art, programming and game design."GL in that race.
#4
So, unless you're really looking for Powerpoint slides and quizzes, the Tutorial has everything you need to succeed on your own.
11/18/2011 (12:50 pm)
The curriculum materials simply provide a "Teachers' Manual" to the Torque 3D 1.2 FPS Tutorial. Slides, tests, a structured class plan geared to a classroom setting and schedules are provided to help a teacher organize his or her classroom time. The primary "text" is the Tutorial itself.So, unless you're really looking for Powerpoint slides and quizzes, the Tutorial has everything you need to succeed on your own.
#5
11/18/2011 (12:55 pm)
Thamks all - it's cleat to me now - if it adds nothing to the tutoriak there's really no use - thanks for the prompt answers
#6
11/18/2011 (12:57 pm)
The materials themselves are designed for a learning environment in class, lab or workshop. However, anybody can download and use them to supplement their own learning, free. I'll post another blog with the link in our educational forum at release. 
#7
If there's a grass roots effort of people that want to teach Torque 3D...I won't stop it. ;)
11/18/2011 (2:11 pm)
Anyone can be a teacher :) Our plans with the first version is to make it widely available...especially since it covers a broad topic. Not sure where we will go after that. We want to get this out so that we can make better decision based on feedback.If there's a grass roots effort of people that want to teach Torque 3D...I won't stop it. ;)
#8
I wouldn't use that wording per se. Anyone who has done curriculum knows that it takes about three hours of work for every hour of class...and that's when you know the topic. We've done that three hours of work for you.
Aside from organization of the tutorial into lecture, exercise, testing and class room administrative information(more install info and suggested syllabus, etc.) it doesn't provide learning content in addition to the tutorial.
11/18/2011 (2:15 pm)
Quote:if it adds nothing to the tutoriak there's really no use - thanks for the prompt answers
I wouldn't use that wording per se. Anyone who has done curriculum knows that it takes about three hours of work for every hour of class...and that's when you know the topic. We've done that three hours of work for you.
Aside from organization of the tutorial into lecture, exercise, testing and class room administrative information(more install info and suggested syllabus, etc.) it doesn't provide learning content in addition to the tutorial.
#9
Link to our resource: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
11/18/2011 (4:04 pm)
Would there be any possibility of recommending our TSIT2 software alongside your educational materials? We licensed our original Torque Script Interactive Tutorial to ITT Tech in 2010 and negotiated a great rate for the school. We would be willing to work with you.Link to our resource: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
#10
I do think that any user and not just teachers can benefit from it...
@makingindiegames you should offer a discounted bundle of all your products...
11/18/2011 (4:55 pm)
What a wonderful way to get into programming games are cool and anyone would like to make them.I do think that any user and not just teachers can benefit from it...
@makingindiegames you should offer a discounted bundle of all your products...
#11
Discount link: I gave this bundle price to a customer that emailed me asking for a discount. The link contains three of our resources for $40. Normally, including the sale for TSIT2, this will save you $16.25; without the sale price of TSIT2 it will save you $22.50.
Download link: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
Resources in Package
Torque Script Interactive Tutorial 2: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
Sync Reloaded and Hands on Coding Guide (Torque 2D): http://www.makingindiegames.com/Sync.html
Reflection Grid (Torque 2D): http://www.makingindiegames.com/Reflection_Grid.html
* I've been convinced not to hide the link. This package hasn't been listed on our site yet. It will appear in the next day or two.
About Educational Licenses: We are willing to dramatically cut the price of our resources for students, teachers, and schools. If you would like to take advantage of any price cuts, please email me at kevinoflaherty@makingindiegames.com and we can negotiate a price.
As a side note, I believe Torque documentation is getting much better. Thank you for your resources and keep up the good work!
11/18/2011 (10:11 pm)
"@makingindiegames you should offer a discounted bundle of all your products... " - TomerDiscount link: I gave this bundle price to a customer that emailed me asking for a discount. The link contains three of our resources for $40. Normally, including the sale for TSIT2, this will save you $16.25; without the sale price of TSIT2 it will save you $22.50.
Download link: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
Resources in Package
Torque Script Interactive Tutorial 2: http://www.makingindiegames.com/TSIT.php
Sync Reloaded and Hands on Coding Guide (Torque 2D): http://www.makingindiegames.com/Sync.html
Reflection Grid (Torque 2D): http://www.makingindiegames.com/Reflection_Grid.html
* I've been convinced not to hide the link. This package hasn't been listed on our site yet. It will appear in the next day or two.
About Educational Licenses: We are willing to dramatically cut the price of our resources for students, teachers, and schools. If you would like to take advantage of any price cuts, please email me at kevinoflaherty@makingindiegames.com and we can negotiate a price.
As a side note, I believe Torque documentation is getting much better. Thank you for your resources and keep up the good work!
#12
"Anyone can be a teacher :)"
I do notice the smiley, but I can assure you that some of the blokes that taught at the recent Computer Science Education I supplemented myself with -had absoloutly no ability whatsoever to teach ;)
It will though be intersting to poke at the stuff you guys produce.
11/19/2011 (2:13 am)
@ Eric"Anyone can be a teacher :)"
I do notice the smiley, but I can assure you that some of the blokes that taught at the recent Computer Science Education I supplemented myself with -had absoloutly no ability whatsoever to teach ;)
It will though be intersting to poke at the stuff you guys produce.
#13
So true
11/19/2011 (4:20 am)
Quote:some of the blokes that taught (...) had absoloutly no ability whatsoever to teach
So true
#14
11/19/2011 (6:36 am)
I have to agree on that point - I know a guy who is an artist welder but can't seem to convey the knowledge effectively. He expects you to watch him work and figure it out from that - "See? That's how you do it." 
#15
On a personal note, I fought strongly against a fare amount of criticism when IA went bust against opinions at my place of work that felt we should drop the Torque Engine like a hot potato. I defended my decision to stay on the basis that I believed GG would deliver, and that we'd see the kind of developments announced in this blog.
So... thank you for proving me right...
I really feel strongly about the need for industry to work more closely with education, and these kinds of initiatives are the first steps on the road to achieving just that. I'll will be looking very closely at the materials and will be happy to give feedback accordingly.
On a final note... With respect to the "anyone can teach" discussion - speaking as a Senior Uni Lecturer and Course Director of 10 years experience now (wow time flies), I can say for sure that some people absolutely have NO IDEA how to teach! LoL.
11/19/2011 (9:05 am)
I'm VERY happy about this development... It's nice to think that those of us paying a recurring educational license now get a little more bang for our buck so to speak. With that in mind, I'd like to commend GG on the free upgrade to T3D 1.2 for those of us who are on such license agreements aswell. Much appreciated.On a personal note, I fought strongly against a fare amount of criticism when IA went bust against opinions at my place of work that felt we should drop the Torque Engine like a hot potato. I defended my decision to stay on the basis that I believed GG would deliver, and that we'd see the kind of developments announced in this blog.
So... thank you for proving me right...
I really feel strongly about the need for industry to work more closely with education, and these kinds of initiatives are the first steps on the road to achieving just that. I'll will be looking very closely at the materials and will be happy to give feedback accordingly.
On a final note... With respect to the "anyone can teach" discussion - speaking as a Senior Uni Lecturer and Course Director of 10 years experience now (wow time flies), I can say for sure that some people absolutely have NO IDEA how to teach! LoL.
#16
11/19/2011 (1:21 pm)
Ok, I'll rephrase. Anyone can teach. Few can teach well. Bad or new teachers will do much better when the work of building the curriculum is done for them. :) 
#18
11/19/2011 (6:55 pm)
Tomer@ I picked up a copy of every Torque book made, but used ... since I just needed for reference and not the source materials included on the CDs. But keep in mind ALL of those books are years old, based off early version of TGE and long before T3D came along. But they are still useful, especially if starting out and trying to learn Torque. good luck! 
#19
Great to see this back. Are you going to try gathering chapters on some more general education material again, like near the end of the dark times?
11/20/2011 (5:04 am)
Damn, you know you're tired when "curriculum" reads as "orichalcum"!Great to see this back. Are you going to try gathering chapters on some more general education material again, like near the end of the dark times?
#20
In all the years I've been around this community, the biggest complaint I've seen is: documentation/learning materials. Ever since Michael was brought on board, the documentation has been getting steadily better. :-) Kudos to you. Ever since Eric took control of GG, Documentation and learning materials have taken flight and get better each day. :-) Kudos to you too. If GG keeps going in this direction, there will be no other engine on the market that can come close to Torque. Great job. :-)
11/20/2011 (6:18 am)
This is simply awesome. I really love the direction GG is going.In all the years I've been around this community, the biggest complaint I've seen is: documentation/learning materials. Ever since Michael was brought on board, the documentation has been getting steadily better. :-) Kudos to you. Ever since Eric took control of GG, Documentation and learning materials have taken flight and get better each day. :-) Kudos to you too. If GG keeps going in this direction, there will be no other engine on the market that can come close to Torque. Great job. :-)
Torque Owner Luis Rodrigues
WinterLeaf Entertainment
Will this free curriculum materials be availlable to teachers only or also to general T3D owners looking to learn on their own?