An Online Collaborative Ecosystem for Educational Computer Graphics
Garett D. Ridge, Demetri Terzopoulos · 2019
We introduce a coding framework that supplements introductory computer graphics courses, with the goal of teaching graphics fundamentals more effectively and lowering the excessive barrier of entry to 3D graphics programming. In particular, our framework provides tiny-graphics.js, a new WebGL-based software library for implementing projects, including an improved organization system for graphics code that has greatly benefited our students. To mitigate the difficulty of creating 3D graphics-enabled websites and online games, we furthermore introduce the “Encyclopedia of Code”—a World Wide Web framework that encourages visitors to learn 3D computer graphics, build educational graphical demos and articles, host them online, and organize them by topic. Our own contributed examples include various interactive tutorials and educational games. Some of our modules expose students to new graphics techniques, while others explore new modes of online learning, collaboration, and computing. In comparison to earlier online graphics coding platforms and mainstream graphics educational materials, the resources that we have developed offer a significantly unique set of features for both inside and outside our classrooms.