Build a game in one week
You must make a small game in one week. You can work alone, or with three friends.
Alone, you must draw the pictures, write the code, test it and write the guide. With a team, each person takes one job.
Which is better? Sometimes the team. Sometimes not. Today you decide how to choose.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Collaboration | Working together with other people on the same goal. | |
| Team | A group of people who work together on one project. | |
| Communication | Sharing information so that everyone understands. | a daily five minute meeting |
| Knowledge sharing | Teaching other people what you know. | |
| Skill | Something you can do well because you learned it. | testing code |
| Deadline | The day or time when the work must be finished. | |
| Independent work | Working alone, with nobody else changing your work. |
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Four reasons to work as a team
Software teams are common. There are four main reasons.
- Less time. Jobs are shared, so the project is finished sooner.
- Better communication. People talk, so they find misunderstandings early.
- Sharing knowledge. Each person knows something the others do not.
- Growing skills. You learn from watching and helping others.
Quick check: the reasons
Have a go
Quick check: the reasons
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The reasons in real life
| Reason | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Less development time | Jobs are done at the same time | One person draws the menu while another writes the login |
| Better communication | Problems are said out loud early | A tester says: this button is not clear |
| Sharing knowledge | One person knows, then everyone knows | Sam explains how the login works |
| Growing skills | You learn by doing and by watching | A new student pairs with an experienced developer |
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More people is not always faster
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One person needs 10 days. Two people do not always need 5 days. They must talk, and one waits for the other. Maybe they need 6 days. Teams save time only when the jobs can be shared well.
When is working alone better?
Teams are not always the best choice.
Work alone when the job is small, when you need deep quiet thinking, or when explaining the job would take longer than doing it.
Work together when the job is big, when many skills are needed, or when another person can check your work.
Together or alone?
| Work together when... | Work alone when... |
|---|---|
| The project is big | The job is small and clear |
| You need different skills | You need quiet time to think |
| A mistake would be costly, so a check by another person helps | Explaining takes longer than doing |
| The deadline is close and jobs can be shared | The job cannot be split into parts |
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