Welcome!
We are happy you’re here! In an innovative approach to education, the Army National Guard has partnered with Skillquest to offer a unique course that combines the excitement of gaming with the foundational skills of coding. Our Rocket League Bot Building course is designed to introduce students to the world of programming through the engaging platform of Rocket League. No prior experience is necessary, making this an accessible entry point for students to embark on a journey into the realms of coding, problem-solving, and strategic thinking.
Join our Educator Program
Do you want to integrate our course into your classroom curriculum? That’s great! We can provide course access to all of the students in your class(es) for teachers who opt into our new Educator Program. See below for full details of program expectations.
Participation Requirements for Teachers
- Be a high school teacher, coach, or educator with students this upcoming fall
- Sign up as a teacher through the course landing page
- Attend a meet and greet meeting with us (we’ll reach out to schedule after sign up)
- Schedule two classroom visits from Skillquest
- One introductory meeting to setup student accounts and kickoff the course
- One follow-up visit to check-in and provide real-time coaching, answer questions, etc.
- Facilitate one visit from an Army National Guard representative to talk about tech career opportunities
Participation Requirements for Students
- Attend scheduled Skillquest class visits
- Engage with the course content and additional materials throughout the program
- Submit a tournament-ready project for the fall Rocket League Bot Tournament
- Complete a project writeup to earn a coding certificate (optional)
Course Overview
This course enables students to learn Python by developing a bot that plays Rocket League. Starting from basic movements such as driving forward, the curriculum progresses through programming concepts at every stage. By the end, students will not only have a deep understanding of Python but also the ability to move into utilizing more complex strategies and aerial mechanics in their projects. The blend of gaming with invaluable programming skills ensures students are both entertained and educated, dedicating 20 hours to project-based learning. Learn more about the course contents on the course landing page.
Skills for the Real World
The course covers essential programming topics including variables, logic & math, arrays, functions, booleans, and objects & vectors. Aimed at aspiring modders, tech enthusiasts, and future innovators, the curriculum is designed to equip students with skills that extend beyond Rocket League, laying the foundation for careers in game design, software development, and other tech-related fields.
All students who complete the course will have the opportunity to earn a certificate through Skillquest and Credly. These certificates are fully trackable and can be included on LinkedIn, resumes, as well as job and college applications. Learn more about our certificates.
Course Modules
- Introduction to Code
- Python Variables
- Writing Routines
- Strategy and Logic
- Selecting Strategy
- Using Loops
- Refactoring
- Debugging
- Source Control
Needed Software and Downloads
To participate in the course, students will need access to:
- A PC that runs WINDOWS
- Python 3.11.8
- Discord (Skillquest’s Server)
- RLBot
- VSCode
- Replit (browser-based)
- GitHub (desktop version, preferably)
- Epic Games Launcher
- Rocket League
All software required for the course is free, ensuring there are no additional costs for participants.
How to Use the Course in Your Classroom
Teachers looking to incorporate this course into their classrooms will find it a valuable resource for introducing students to programming. The guided note templates provided below can be used to help track student progress and integrate their achievements into your grade book while providing a way for students to easily take notes throughout the course. You can watch the videos together as a class or have students do so asynchronously as assignments, depending on what best fits your needs. This course not only educates but also inspires students, showing them the possibilities within the tech industry.
Guided Note Templates:
- Module 1: Set Up RLBot
- Module 2: Python Variables
- Module 3: Writing Your First Routine
- Module 4: Strategy and Logic
- Module 5: Selecting Hit Strategies
- Module 6: Using Loops to get Boost
- Module 7: Keep Code Simple – Refactoring
- Module 8: Sharing Your Bot (Source Control)
- Optional Module: Drawing Lines and Text for Debugging
Additional Information & Resources
Accessing the Course
To access the course, simply log in to your Skillquest account. If you’ve signed up through our landing page, access should be automatically activated. You can navigate back to your active courses (quests) anytime by hovering over your profile picture in the upper right hand side of the screen and selecting “My Quests”.
Recommended Module Schedule
The fall course is structured over several weeks, starting from August 28th with Modules 1 & 2, and concluding with a code submission deadline on October 31st. A virtual tournament event is scheduled for November 14th, allowing students to showcase their developed bots in a tournament environment, competing against their peers. Check out our spring tournament footage below.
During the duration of the course, we are dedicated to offering a variety of live support options to cater to the needs of all our students, including those who may be participating outside the traditional classroom setting. We’ve developed a suggested timeline for completing the modules that is designed to be manageable, avoiding the feel of an added burden on top of existing coursework.
There are two critical deadlines to keep in mind: The code submission cut-off and the tournament date. Apart from these, the course offers flexibility, allowing educators and students to progress at a pace that best suits their individual or instructional needs.
Contact Information
- Corbin Fonville
- Founder/CEO
- Discord: @Tero
- co****@***********st.io
- Davi Singer
- PM Curriculum Advancement
- Discord: @pythondreadqueen
- da**@***********st.io
Conclusion
Our Python course offers a unique educational experience that is both fun and informative. By participating in this course, students can start with zero programming knowledge and progress to creating their own Rocket League bots. This hands-on approach to learning not only equips students with programming skills but also prepares them for future tech endeavors.
Teachers interested in utilizing this course are encouraged to take advantage of the registration period and help their students step into the world of tech innovation. Your feedback and collaboration will play a vital role in shaping the future of this exciting educational journey.