School of Computing student Craig Forrester has recently had the number one top selling game in the Xbox 360 community charts. His game, Johnny Platform's Biscuit Romp, uses Teesside-taught technology XNA.
Craig wrote this game in his spare time, managing to make both money and a name for himself whilst still at the University.
A new website for Zoe's Place, the Middlesbrough-based hospice for babies and infants with life-limiting illnesses, has been designed by students at the University of Teesside.
The Normanby-based hospice teamed up with Master's degree students in the School of Computing, who had to compete in teams to design a site that met their needs. That competitive element, along with the opportunity to work for such a worthwhile cause, helped motivate student Ben Kenyon, whose team designed the winning website.
Ben, 32, from Yarm said: "Each group consulted with the client several times throughout the year to find out what their requirements were, what kind of 'look and feel' they wanted the site to have and what kind of people visited the site. We had to produce a prototype of the website around Christmas, which we presented to the client and asked for their feedback about the style and design".
"The client was particularly pleased that we had included a virtual tour, which allows people to look around the hospice online. Obviously, we were delighted that our site was chosen, but the entire module has been really enjoyable and a fantastic challenge."
Ben is a student on the MA Creative Digital Media course and worked with team members Mark Dickinson, Susan Anderson, Jim Roberts and Sarra Thomopoulou to design the site for the hospice. Five other groups took part in the module, entitled Client & User-Centred Solutions.
To visit the Zoe's Place site, go to www.zoesplace.org.
The National Teaching Fellowship Scheme Award, worth £50,000 for research, was given to Professor Philip Barker in recognition of excellence in learning and teaching. This is the fifth National Teaching Fellowship Scheme win for the University since the launch of the award in 2000.
Based in the School of Computing, Professor Barker has been a pioneer in e-learning for more than 25 years and is committed to the use of computers throughout education. He joined Teesside Polytechnic in 1971 and worked in Durham for several years before returning to Teesside in 1979, when he developed his ideas on the potential of the computer.
Professor Barker said: "I was thrilled when I found out that I had won the award and I'll be using the reasearch money to further my studies into all aspects of online learning and electronic education support for students. The last 25 years have been so exciting for me at Teesside that I wish I had another 25 years here to see what happens next. I think we have a great future and I'll be here for as long as I can."