Age of Computers (AoC) is a new approach to the learning activities that supplements the auditorium lectures in a computer fundamentals course with 250 students. It is a computer game that presents the students a diverse set of problems from the course topics linked to computer history. It is implemented as set of dynamic web pages retrieved from a database. A prototype was used in 2003, and the feedback is positive and a strong motivation for continuing the project. The paper describes AoC, its use and implementation.

The course SIF8005 Object-Oriented Programming at the NTNU is in many respects taught in a quite traditional manner, with a well-known textbook, lectures in huge auditoria, and compulsory exercises that the students have to deliver to be allowed to sit a final written exam. The exercise part of the course is a mixture of individual exercises on a weekly basis, and a somewhat larger project to be done by groups of 4 students. This paper particularly discusses the project, which has become a huge success after some notable changes were made for the 2001 offering of the course. Then the assignment profile was changed from one of fixed requirements set by staff to an open assignment, where each group made a computer game according to their own preferences. This change eliminated many of the problems present in earlier offerings and increased student inspiration.