Image shows a GIF of Selena Wang's project "Kittie's KornerStore." In the image a wide-eyed, and animated cat sits behind a counter with items for purchase displayed behind her. The user must type in key words to purchase the items. Through user input and if-else blocks, the user is able to purchase items and Kittie totals the bill.

Students in COMPFOR courses create some cool things, from interactive games to digital images and sounds.

This blog highlights their work and journeys in Exploratory Design.

Mark Guzdial, Director of the Program in Computing for the Arts and Sciences and instructor of COMPFOR courses, points to a lap tops screen as he assist a young woman student a classroom setting, Another young woman student works independently, opposite them, at the same table.

Our Studio-in-Lecture courses encourage exploratory talk about programming in a supportive environment, wherein – much like learning a new language – students are supported in speaking the language of computing by exploring code together.

What follows is only a moment in our students’ development. Students take these courses to learn about computing that relates to their LSA majors and careers. Many find the experience of programming valuable because it improves their ability to communicate with technical co-workers. Students find beauty and a deeper understanding of code through the geometries of digital design. A few will become software developers, others will build unique skill sets for diverse careers in work and research, and many will emerge as well-prepared lifelong learners, equipped to thrive in our rapidly evolving technological society.

A GIF image of Kaidi Zhang's Hachiware: Butterfly Catcher," a side-scrolling video game. In the game, the user must move Hachiware to avoid traps and catch evasive butterflies. The image is a link to Kaidi individual page describing the project and it impact on her journey in computing.
The GIF image is of Rose Gerson's unnamed project, in which a user-controlled figure figure with a bright mushroom hat, must jump between moving elevated platforms to avoid traps and win prizes. The image is a link to a larger page where Rose describes her eureka moment in her learning development.
The GIF image shows black-on-white maze and green ball that runs into a wall of the maze and turns red after hitting the wall. The image is also a link to Sooyoung Jo's individual page where she describes the challenge and joy in developing a collision detection algorithm in her Snap! code.
The GIF image shows Nicole Kuchta's revision of the popular program 'Paint,' which can be found on many Microsoft Windows operating systems. The image shows the Snap!-based emulation of selecting the pen tool from the side bar, drawing a circle in black, then selecting the paint tool to fill the circle with red. The image is also a link to Nicole's individual page where she discusses her revision of the classic computing application.
A GIF image representing Sarah Pesta;s “From Deep Seas to Shallow Shores" project. The image shows a world map slowly materialize in relief of the worlds ocean's deepest points cumulatively populating the screen. The image also serves a link to Sarah's individual page.