About This Course
Get a taste of real-world software development as you develop a polished game or app with a team of peers! First, you’ll discover the basics of development with Unity—an industry standard development tool—and C++. C++ in Unity helps you build your development mindset. With helpfully named functions like “Start” and “Update” and actual in-game objects you can attach your code to, fundamental concepts will come across as clear as day. Beyond that, when you’re polishing your apps you’ll go through more of the entire development pipeline including importing art and other external assets. Once you've mastered the basics, you'll work in a collaborative team environment to realize a shared vision. You’ll also check in and check out code in online repositories, learn about branches, and actively version a live project. Combining art, code, and other assets into a cohesive whole, your experience will culminate in an app or game that's ready for the big-time. Work together and keep iterating to add more polished content to your portfolio! This course is for current high school students.
In this course you will:
- Create apps and design workflows
- Code Visual Studio using C++
- Design and develop your own apps and games
- Explore and develop a user interface
- Develop a portfolio to share with potential universities or employers
Sample Schedule
Sessions 1-5
Dive into game development with Unity, an industry-standard game engine that’s free to use! You’ll learn to create projects, scenes, and game objects before writing your own scripts in the C++ scripting language. These skills are foundational to the field of game development and will act as a springboard into future projects. You’ll learn to combine a variety of disciplines into a cohesive game or app. Start by discussing industry development pipelines and project management before trying your hand at asset creation and game design.
Sessions 6-10
Put the skills you gained in the previous sessions to the test in a collaborative game or app project. You’ll work with a team of peers to create a compelling project for your portfolio. Learn to push and pull to an online repository to manage your project and utilize a development pipeline to maximize teamwork and collaboration in your own small game studio!
Earn a Certificate
Upon successful completion of this program, Penn School of Arts & Sciences High School Programs grants a certificate of completion to participants. This program is graded as a pass or fail; students must receive 75% to pass and obtain the certificate of completion.
- Certificate recognizing your skills and success
- Skills that can help secure internships and potential jobs
- Portfolio to share with colleges and future employers
- Designated office hours for additional help and advice
When does your teen want to learn?
School Year: Weekly for 10 Weeks
Supercharge your teen’s school year with an online group class meeting once a week for 10 weeks! For maximum flexibility, you can choose the ideal day of week and time to learn—perfect for teens juggling multiple after-school activities! Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.
Summer: Daily for 2 Weeks
Maximize your teen’s summer learning with an online group class meeting Monday-Friday for two weeks! This focused schedule will help them boost their resume as quickly as possible, with plenty of summer left for travel, hangouts with friends, and other favorite activities. Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.
What Parents Are Asking
Why does my teen need this program?
C++ consistently ranks among the most in-demand programming languages for coding jobs, and it can be a great starting language for people who are new to coding. As of last year, the total market value of the gaming industry was $151.06 billion dollars, with steady growth predicted through 2027. This is just one indicator of exciting things to come in the gaming universe, and even more so in terms of job opportunities and careers in this field as designers, engineers, studio executives, and more.
Is this program right for my teen?
This course is a perfect fit for: Aspiring game developers Creatives interested in a variety of disciplines Students who want to experience working in a team environment
Is this program right for beginners?
Yes! Teens of all skill levels will benefit from this program. What are the technical requirements for this program? In order for your teen to run this course, they will need a Mac or Windows computer, webcam, and stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing.
How will my teen receive their certificate?
After successful completion of the program, your teen’s verified digital certificate will be emailed to you, at no additional cost, in the name you used when registering for the program. All certificate images shown are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Penn.
Will Penn faculty be teaching this course?
This course is taught by live iD Tech instructors.
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