Using computer graphics as a vehicle for teaching software engineering concepts

The trend over the past decade in computer science and computer engineering curricula has been to use computer graphics as a junior- or senior-level elective course focusing on 3-D graphics and data visualization. Alternatively, it is possible to develop a computer graphics course that can address core curricular needs beyond its obvious topical and algorithmic scope. The development of an interactive graphics application in a modern windowing architecture provides an excellent opportunity to reinforce object-oriented and other important programming ideas. Among these topics are the use of software engineering concepts of Polymorphism and Model-View-Separation and the software patterns of Factory and Command, the development of true event-driven systems, as well as the practical application of appropriate data structure choice and algorithm implementation. This paper will focus on the introductory computer graphics course (CS321) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering as a core curriculum course and how it is being used to teach some of these programming concepts.