I'm having trouble with the variable list. This first draft is only supposed to have 6 words, but it keeps replicating the same list. I do not know why.
Hope you enjoy it.
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Storyboard & Game Link
The storyboard evolved and was not as complex as I thought it would be. I still need to develop a character for this piece. I'm thinking some type of miner who will have a red hat on the first level. This will be anachronistic as the "red hat" for a new miner was not a concept at the time of the Monongah Disaster. Perhaps I can create a miner with a carbide light on his helmet and the light would get brighter with each correct word that is found.
I'm having trouble with the variable list. This first draft is only supposed to have 6 words, but it keeps replicating the same list. I do not know why.
Hope you enjoy it.
I'm having trouble with the variable list. This first draft is only supposed to have 6 words, but it keeps replicating the same list. I do not know why.
Hope you enjoy it.
DEJ - #9
Why should programming be part of
school curriculum?
I am not sure that programming should be a part of school
curriculum in general. The Scratch
interface, while it is defined as programming is merely an introduction into
the world of programming, in this writers opinion. “Arguably a full fledged programming lanvastly
differs from other novice-friendly visual
programming environments in that it
utilizes a user-friendly building block command structure, eliminating
debugging processes and the risk of syntax errors (Resnick et al. 2003; Maloney
et al. 2004).” (Kafia, Pepler, Chiu pg
8) supports the concept that Scratch is a programming language, however I am
drawn to the statement “eliminating debugging processes and the risk of syntax
errors.” The programming process is
complicated and Scratch simplifies it considerably, but Scratch has programming
BEHIND the programming. So to say that
Scratch is teaching programming is an overstatement. Scratch provides an introduction to programming
and is more accurately a ‘wizzy wig” editor, much as has Macromedia Dreamweaver
(web design programming) is when compared to HTML (the actual programming
language).
What are the barriers to implementing
programming in schools?
The number one challenge to implementation of any new curriculum
is always funding. Funding is necessary
for technology, staffing resources, and equipment. Although the article does not address this
issue. However, the concern that arises
from the article is their statistics on project production. According to their study, “There are various
peaks and valleys
to the bar graph, indicating that the
majority of interest in Scratch occurs from January through August and there is
less interest in the fall months between September and December.” (Kafia,
Peppler, Chiu pg 11) While they go on to provide potential reasons
for this project evolution it still evokes a hint of truth. In my experience, students are generally more
engaged in computer time during the winter months. While youth today are not as active outdoors
as they once were they still find reasons to gather outside a learning
environment and are less productive when the weather is pleasant. Additionally, Scratch is still a PC based
program which would require students to have access to either a desktop or
laptop computer and in the low income communities this would mean many students
would not have resources outside the classroom.
How can barriers to implementing
programming in schools be overcome?
I would defer to my previous answer,
FUNDING. If programming were to be
implemented with the appropriate amount of resources and there was community
support to enable students to practice those skills then there would be hope in
a low-income environment.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Game Thoughts - Week #9
As I've experienced different games and activities on Scratch this semester I've become entranced with the possibilities. Originally the hangman concept was really interesting, but as I created my Word Search for my about me I really got excited. After looking at a variety of games, I found a pipeline that looks like it could be developed to relate to coal mining, but I also want to develop a vocabulary game relating to coal. So back to the wordsearch concept I go.
Here's a game that gives me some additional inspiration.
My character will be a Red Hat Miner who needs to learn more about coal mining so that he/she can do her job. They will need to follow clues to locate the supplies they need to be a miner on the first level. When they successful locate all the tools they need they will be launched into an underground setting where they will face some challenges. These challenges will require them to know a few things about life underground to be able to successfully complete the level.
Selecting the appropriate images will be as important as the right sounds. I am thinking that part of the clues for the word search will be auditory, but also this would be a great place to introduce the sounds of coal life. Most likely using some old time music.
Of course it might be good to mention that these miners will be teleported to the year 1907 where they will be heading to work for the Fairmont Coal Co. at Monongah Mine #6.
Here's a game that gives me some additional inspiration.
My character will be a Red Hat Miner who needs to learn more about coal mining so that he/she can do her job. They will need to follow clues to locate the supplies they need to be a miner on the first level. When they successful locate all the tools they need they will be launched into an underground setting where they will face some challenges. These challenges will require them to know a few things about life underground to be able to successfully complete the level.
Selecting the appropriate images will be as important as the right sounds. I am thinking that part of the clues for the word search will be auditory, but also this would be a great place to introduce the sounds of coal life. Most likely using some old time music.
Of course it might be good to mention that these miners will be teleported to the year 1907 where they will be heading to work for the Fairmont Coal Co. at Monongah Mine #6.
DEJ#8 -
Quote: "Collaboration seemed to be a critical component in the media arts practices at this design studio. Youth not only learned about computer programming from their social participation
but they also became motivated by collaborating with peers and mentors to create and share work."
Response: A variety of technology users benefit from a social and work environment that allows for collaboration. I believe it would be very rare to find a computer user that does not occasionally reach out for technical support from another. If an individual meets with friends and shows off their "new" phone, chances are someone in the gathering will provide assistance and support in learning the ins and outs of the new gadget.
I have often benefited from the collaboration of others when working on graphics programs, designing forms in word or other creative process.
Resource:
I attended the Appalachian Studies Association Conference this weekend in Boone, NC. I attended a variety of technology sessions where integration, collaboration, design, and implementation were discussed. I am delighted to share one of these resources with this class.
Berea College in Berea, Kentucky presented a session entitled, "Mappalachia.org: Digital Thinking, Learning, Composing, and Disseminating in Appalachian Studies." Students in a Mapping Appalachia with Digital Media course, in the summer of 2011 created this incredible resource in just four weeks. While it is fair to acknowledge that the instructors of the course admit to having some foundation work done for the project prior to the course it is also equally important to mention that they noted that some of their precourse work was severely altered during the class.
Three students presented on their project and all three commented on how important collaboration was in executing this project. Students worked in teams on the various components of the projects, such as framework, database development, and creativity and design. The logo was created by a student from Saudi Arabia.
The students and the audience in the presentation were all energized by the collaborative discussion that was driven by the unveiling of the project. Professors, students on the panel, and student in the audience, found ways to change, improve, and utilize this dynamic interface.
Citations:
Berea College. (2011, July). Mappalachia. Retrieved from http://mappalachia.org/berea.php
Peppler, K. A., & Kafai, J. (n.d.). Collaboration, computation, and creativity: Media arts practices in urban youth culture. Retrieved from https://ilearn-fsu.wvnet.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_13908_1&url=
but they also became motivated by collaborating with peers and mentors to create and share work."
Response: A variety of technology users benefit from a social and work environment that allows for collaboration. I believe it would be very rare to find a computer user that does not occasionally reach out for technical support from another. If an individual meets with friends and shows off their "new" phone, chances are someone in the gathering will provide assistance and support in learning the ins and outs of the new gadget.
I have often benefited from the collaboration of others when working on graphics programs, designing forms in word or other creative process.
Resource:
I attended the Appalachian Studies Association Conference this weekend in Boone, NC. I attended a variety of technology sessions where integration, collaboration, design, and implementation were discussed. I am delighted to share one of these resources with this class.
Berea College in Berea, Kentucky presented a session entitled, "Mappalachia.org: Digital Thinking, Learning, Composing, and Disseminating in Appalachian Studies." Students in a Mapping Appalachia with Digital Media course, in the summer of 2011 created this incredible resource in just four weeks. While it is fair to acknowledge that the instructors of the course admit to having some foundation work done for the project prior to the course it is also equally important to mention that they noted that some of their precourse work was severely altered during the class.
Three students presented on their project and all three commented on how important collaboration was in executing this project. Students worked in teams on the various components of the projects, such as framework, database development, and creativity and design. The logo was created by a student from Saudi Arabia.
The students and the audience in the presentation were all energized by the collaborative discussion that was driven by the unveiling of the project. Professors, students on the panel, and student in the audience, found ways to change, improve, and utilize this dynamic interface.
Citations:
Berea College. (2011, July). Mappalachia. Retrieved from http://mappalachia.org/berea.php
Peppler, K. A., & Kafai, J. (n.d.). Collaboration, computation, and creativity: Media arts practices in urban youth culture. Retrieved from https://ilearn-fsu.wvnet.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_13908_1&url=
Saturday, March 9, 2013
DEJ - #7
Quote: "Game design involves knowledge and skills from multiple contributors: producer, artist, programmer, interactivity designer, sound engineer, and tester....In short, designing a game requires players to equip themselves with critical literacy rather than just funcitonal literacy: The former literacy demands a much higher level of cognitive skills than would be the case with simply playing a game."
Comment: The evolution from player to designer will occur only IF players learn the critical skills necessary. This creates the conundrum of "which came first, the chicken or the egg..." If it takes good game design to develop the essential critical literacy skills then how to we get the critical literacy skills in the first place? Fortunately the evolution of video games from the earliest days has been extremely progressive. Early progress was slow, but it too has grown exponentially. Just 5 years ago, when my son looked at schools to study game design he was sorely disappointed in the availability of programs. Not only were programs scarce, they were expensive. That too has changed.
Resource: The Princeton Review has this to say about education in video game design.
The players of today, will become the educators and players of tomorrow. The resources available to learn the technical sklls will continue to grow and some schools will excel in providing quality education in the development of both recreational and educational games.
Citations:
Hsu, H., & Wang, S. (2009). Using game literacies to cultivate new literacies. Simulation & Gaming, 41(3), 400-417. doi: 10.1177/1046878109355361
Ioving, D (2012). Top video game design press release. Princeton Review. 2012. Hsu, H., & Want, S. (2009). Using game literacies to cultivate new literacies. http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design-press-release.aspx
Comment: The evolution from player to designer will occur only IF players learn the critical skills necessary. This creates the conundrum of "which came first, the chicken or the egg..." If it takes good game design to develop the essential critical literacy skills then how to we get the critical literacy skills in the first place? Fortunately the evolution of video games from the earliest days has been extremely progressive. Early progress was slow, but it too has grown exponentially. Just 5 years ago, when my son looked at schools to study game design he was sorely disappointed in the availability of programs. Not only were programs scarce, they were expensive. That too has changed.
Resource: The Princeton Review has this to say about education in video game design.
The players of today, will become the educators and players of tomorrow. The resources available to learn the technical sklls will continue to grow and some schools will excel in providing quality education in the development of both recreational and educational games.
Citations:
Hsu, H., & Wang, S. (2009). Using game literacies to cultivate new literacies. Simulation & Gaming, 41(3), 400-417. doi: 10.1177/1046878109355361
Ioving, D (2012). Top video game design press release. Princeton Review. 2012. Hsu, H., & Want, S. (2009). Using game literacies to cultivate new literacies. http://www.princetonreview.com/game-design-press-release.aspx
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Pac Ball
On the surface it seemed fairly easy. The programming was not overly challenging, just time consuming. It was the creation of a maze that I was happy with. I would still like to work on spacing and align the bites so that the maze was symmetrical. I spent approximately 14 hours getting this project to this point and opted to not redo the maze again. This was my fifth maze and I was finally happy with the layout.
The graphics (paint) within scratch is not overly user friendly for fine work. It serves the basic of the program well, but I suspect that those that use Scratch alot are dependent upon an outside graphics program.
I attempted to put a timer on and I was successful. I wanted to set the code so that at 60 seconds all the scripts would stop. I could not arrive at the correct configuration. I did review several forums on both the pacman and the timer script. Some were more helpful than others.
Some of the PacMan games that I looked at were amazing, but the forums all seemed to reflect that creating the ghosts was challenging and time intensive due to the mass number of variables.
Scratch | Project | PacBall
The graphics (paint) within scratch is not overly user friendly for fine work. It serves the basic of the program well, but I suspect that those that use Scratch alot are dependent upon an outside graphics program.
I attempted to put a timer on and I was successful. I wanted to set the code so that at 60 seconds all the scripts would stop. I could not arrive at the correct configuration. I did review several forums on both the pacman and the timer script. Some were more helpful than others.
Some of the PacMan games that I looked at were amazing, but the forums all seemed to reflect that creating the ghosts was challenging and time intensive due to the mass number of variables.
Scratch | Project | PacBall
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