Computer graphics curriculum: time for a change?

ABSTRACT

Computer graphics is a field driven by technology. Whereas the technology has changed enormously in the past 15 years, the way most computer science faculty teach computer graphics courses has not changed. The authors believe that faculty should seriously consider changing the content and approach of their computer graphics courses, and in this paper we discuss the rationale for the change and our recomendation for a new course. Note that Maria Larrondo-Petrie organized a panel session on this topic for the SIGGRAPH '94 conference (with panelists Jack Bresenham, John Lansdown, Cary Laxer and Scott Owen).

REFERENCES

• 1: Owen, G. S. "HyperGraph - A Hypermedia System for Teaching Computer Graphics," Interactive Learning Through Visualization, S. Cunningham & R. J. Hubbold, eds., Springer-Verlag, 1992b.
• 2: G. Scott Owen, Teaching computer graphics using RenderMan, Proceedings of the twenty-third SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.304-308, March 05-06, 1992, Kansas City, Missouri, United States
• 3: Owen, G. S. "Teaching Image Synthesis as a Science," Computers & Graphics, Vol. 18:3, March, 1994.
• 4: G. Scott Owen , Valerie A. Miller, A workshop on computer graphics for undergraduate faculty, ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics, v.25 n.3, p.196-199, July 1991 [doi>10.1145/126640.126663]
• 5: Schaller. N., A. Bunshaft, T. Howard, W. LaLonde, D. Schweitzer, C. Wasikowski, and Z. Xiang "Graphics Education for Computer Science," Computer Graphics, 26(2) July, 1992, pp. 410-411.
• 6: Dino Schwietzer, Ray tracing: a means to motivate students in an introductory graphics course, Proceedings of the twenty-first SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, p.157-161, February 1990, Washington, D.C., United States
• 7: Gregory J. Ward , Francis M. Rubinstein , Robert D. Clear, A ray tracing solution for diffuse interreflection, ACM SIGGRAPH Computer Graphics, v.22 n.4, p.85-92, Aug. 1988
• 8: G. Scott Owem ACM SIGGRAPH director for education, Mathematics and Computer Science, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30309; [e-mail].
• 9: Maria M. Larrondo-Petrie, co-chair, computer science curriculum committee of the ACM SIGGRAPH education committee, Computer Science and Engineering, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431-0991; [e-mail].
• 10: Cary Laxer, co-chair, computer science curriculum committee of the ACM SIGGRAPH education committee, Computer Science, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Terre Haute, IN 47803- 3999; [e-mail].

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS

Additional Classification:
  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.4 IMAGE PROCESSING AND COMPUTER VISION

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Curriculum

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management, Performance, Theory