Using nintendo switch development environment to teach computer game programming and virtual reality

Abstract

In this initiative, Nintendo Switch development environment was chosen for teaching middle and early high school students game development. A two-day game development workshop was designed after two months of preparation and offered to twenty middle and high school students in two sections in the summer of 2019. Students were taught the basics of the Nintendo Switch development environment along with basics of virtual reality (VR), and asked to design a simple VR game. Nintendo Labo VR kits were also utilized in the workshop. This paper illustrates the design of the workshop including the features of the Nintendo Switch development environment in addition to the Nintendo Labo VR kits. The participants were given pre- and post-workshop surveys and demonstrated their products to their peers at the conclusion of the workshops. Each student was rewarded with a Nintendo Labo VR kit with the successful completion of his or her workshop. Lessons learned from these workshops including the need of increasing the duration of the workshops and feedback from the participants are also included in this paper, and will be employed in improving these workshops. The workshops will also be offered at the elementary school level and utilized in other outreach events such as Carnegie Science Center Sci-Tech Festivals and the National Engineers Week events. The paper is concluded with future possible outreach project ideas, based on the technical programming content and ability of Nintendo Switch development environment and the Labo VR kits.