Teaching/learning/playing Max/msp
Hi,
It looks like I'll be teaching a class of students max/msp from September. We'll only have 2 months and though I know the tutorial helped me loads in learning the program myself I am wondering if there are any other methods available.
Personally I think it would be great to create a number of game like learning patches. Think 'Lemmings' for max/msp. The student/player gets a limited number of specific blocks and objects and has to create a predetermined result (with or without time limit).
Early levels could introduce the simple blocks, then each new level could introduce a new object or combination of objects.
Something this obvious has hopefully already been done, if so, it would be great to have access to that material. It would be great to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Thanks,
David
David,
Are you teaching college students? Are they music students or can you expect that they've had some programming background? Are you in a composition department, a "new media" department, an art department? It's important to think beyond the tutorials, which represent only one perspective of max, and are certainly not catered to different learning styles. I like your idea of making a game of it, and I think I have an idea of what you mean. A patch template with a "bin" of available objects on the left, a "mission" stated at the top, and a timer or some evaluative device on the right that would launch the next "level" if all the conditions were met would be quite fun for students to gain a rudimentary entry into the max objects before proceeding to more in-depth coverage of what msp is and how it works. Games would definitely be a great way to supplement other curricula. It's super important to stress the importance of thinking about programs away from the computer, especially for students who may have to trek across campus to patch in a computer lab.
I'm a classically trained pianist and have taught piano for ten years, but in the last year have been preparing to extend my studio to into electronic music. If you'd like to collaborate on some patches or worksheets, let me know.
Myer
The students will be at the start of a 4 year study in interaction design. They'll probably have little if any programming experience. The idea is to hand them the basics and have them develop their skills from there. As for computer Labs, the HKU (in the Netherlands) is rather well equipped and most students will probably have laptops also, still I will be sure to have them do a bit of design on paper also.
Right now the teaching job is still a bit up in the air, but if things will happen, it would be great to have your help. Maybe I'll start with a trial level just to see if there is fun to be had. :-)