Civics to STEM & Back Again

Globaloria's various knowledge communities allow for a virtually unlimited amount of choices for game design topics. However, in order to compete in this year's competitions, all entries must fit either into the Civics & News or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) knowledge communities. So, students participating in classes that are not specific to one of these knowledge areas must decide how their game idea can teach a Civics or STEM concept in order to qualify for the competition.

So the challenge becomes how to decide whether the game concept fits more with Civics or STEM. This decision doesn't need to be as complicated as you might think. Many game ideas can cross between these knowledge areas with ease. Below are five game ideas that are both Civics & STEM related, and could probably be connected to other knowledge communities as well.

Topic #1. Global Warming - The idea of global warming is an issue that has received much attention from the scientific community. However, it's potential ramifications and even discussion over its existence and/or origin have made it into political discussions and news headlines around the world. A game centered around global warming would most certainly be able to be connected to both Civics and STEM with now problems.

Topic #2. Space Exploration - Some of the top scientists in the world work for NASA, and we have all been inspired by sci-fi books, television shows and movies which have us wondering what is in store for us in the far reaches of space. However, this large of an endeavor requires the backing of national governments. And, should we be successful at reaching the stars, what kind of government would be set up to keep order in the new colonies? These ideas could require the player to examine current and past governmental structures and their successes and failures in order to make the best decisions.

Topic #3. Energy Efficiency - This is a topic that is rooted in STEM ideas. Whether we are talking about automobiles, homes, or large scale "smart grids", this topic is also hot in the news. Local, state, and federal governments are constantly discussing how to make our energy usage more efficient, and whether efficiency needs to mean sacrifice of quality of living. A great blend of Civic/News with STEM would be to create a game where the player's goal is to have the lowest level of energy consumption, while achieving a high quality of life.

Topic #4. Traffic planning - What? That sounds dumb. Well, actually, this could be a pretty cool simulation style puzzle game. The object could be to engineer traffic patterns that would allow for the smoothest flow, while at the same time encouraging commerce and trade. The learning benefits are obvious from both a Civics and STEM standpoint.

Topic #5. Nuclear Disarmament - This is a hot topic in the news right now with treaties being discussed right now between the US and Russia. A game with this topic could incorporate Civics and STEM by having two types of game play stages. One where the player is in the position of a leader negotiating the details of disarmament and another where the player makes scientific based decisions on how to dispose of or use the uranium and plutonium in weapons.

These are just examples of how STEM and Civics can cross paths in games. There are many more examples. Just check your news headlines to find your favorite topic!

Class Assignment 12/8/2010

Good Afternoon Globalorians!

If you are in my class, and you are reading this in 6th block on December 8th, 2010, then we must have actually had school today, and the substitute must have gotten my message to take you to Mr. Warfield's room.

Since our time online has been limited recently, I wanted to make sure you had a chance to update your blogs and wikis while I am absent.

1st - Compose a new blogpost in which you reflect on your progress with your paper prototype so far. Answer the following questions in detail:
* How many screens are shown in your paper prototype? What are they?
* Are all buttons/actions which will link to another screen shown clearly so that someone else who is play testing your prototype will clearly understand what they are trying to do? Are there any adjustments you think you might need to make in order for this to be complete.
* Are you satisfied that the prototype meets all of the requirements of the project as outlined in the wiki paper prototype assignment? What might you need to do to finalize your prototype?
* Are you looking forward to posting your prototype video and your video blog? Why or why not?

Once you have posted, read a classmate's blog post and comment on it.

2nd - Go to your wiki page. All of this year's project progress must be recorded on "Projects - Mr. Allder's 2010" section. Not the "Projects" section. If your progress is recorded in the wrong place, don't fret. Just make sure you are logged on, then open your "Projects" page and click the edit button. With the entire section open for editing, highlight and copy EVERYTHING from this page. Then open your "Projects - Mr. Allder's 2010" page and click the edit button. With the entire section open for editing, highlight all of the text from this page then paste your material in it's place. NOTE TO NICK, ANDREW, and AMANDA: Projects from past years should be archived in the "Projects" page. Do not delete old material.

Be sure to update your Learning logs for today as well as last week's classes. See you Friday as we finish up and film our prototypes!

Bloggers-R-Us!

Good Morning Bloggers! Welcome to our lesson.



Since we do not have access to Flash today, we are going to use our time to become intimately familiar with our blogs! Today you have three assignments which need to be completed by the end of the period.

1. Review blogging tutorials on how to customize your blog to include links, photos, video, and more.

2. Complete 2 blog entries: using the following prompts
A. The Imagining Your Game Blog Prompt.
B. The Planning Your Game Blog Prompt. For this one, find a picture online that represents your game idea and display it in your post. Since most of you are working on individual games, discuss your strengths and weaknesses in flash, etc. How will you use your strengths to help others in class. How will you depend on others (both in class and online) to overcome your weaknesses in order to have a successful game?

Make sure in both posts that you are finding ways to include links, photos, and/or other rich media content.

3. Don't forget that part of blogging is to comment on other students' blogs. Go to the state map at www.myglife.org/usa/wv. Click on another school's link and find students' blogs in their user gallery. Comment on AT LEAST one other student's blog. Keep it positive and related to their topic. This is part of the blogging assignment and must be completed.

After you complete your assignments, make sure you update your learning log for the day.

Have a great blogging day!

Narrowing the Gap!

It's been a crazy start to the school year with lapses in functioning technology, delays for the sake of "online safety" and various other obstacles. But after coming slow out of the gate, our class is definitely narrowing the gap and catching up to where we need to be!

In order for this to continue we have to keep our eyes on a couple of key targets:

1. Everyone should be completing the Choosing a Topic assignment today. This includes all four subtopics and the final blog post.

2. We must be prepared to work efficiently on our mini-game project over the next few classes. Flash can be tricky, but if we stay focused I have complete faith that we will do great!

So, to my students I pose the following question:

What can YOU do outside of class time to make these goals become reality? How can you prepare to make sure our class time is used as efficiently as possible?

Here are some suggestions. Read over the topics and become familiar with the terminology prior to the class. Look at some tutorials so that you understand what we will be shooting for in the mini-game project.

HERE IS YOUR HOMEWORK TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th:

Write a blog post about your thoughts regarding learning to use flash and creating your first mini-game. What do you think the challenges will be, what do you think you will do well.

With determination we can accomplish our goals and continue to narrow the gap - heck, we may even be able to take the lead before long! Keep up the great work guys!

Taking the next step!!! (photos)

Students -

Now that you all know how to make a blog post with links. Let's take our blogging a step further. For today's assignment, you are to write a post about what genre of game you would like to make, and why. To make it more interesting for your reader let's add some interactivity.

First, find a site (it can be one of the games you reviewed today, or another game example) that demonstrates the genre you are discussing. Link to this site within your post.

Second, find a photo online that relates to your post and embed it using the photo icon at the top of your blog editor. Here is a photo of an action game:

Welcome To Globaloria 2010-2011!!!

It is a great day at Greenbrier East High School. We are finally able to get just about everyone online!!!

Our goal for today is to get all students blogging with more confidence and using links to support their content.

Use this as an example.

Happy Belated Birthday to the Man Who Put the Beat in The Beatles!

"Peace and Love"


Richard Starkey celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday in New York's Time Square. Starkey is better known as Ringo Starr, the drummer for The Beatles. He is also currently my favorite of the "Fab Four". I say "currently" because I tend to go through phases. You know, there are times when we all love John Lennon for his forward thinking song writing, and who doesn't think at times "man, Paul McCartney looks cool playing left handed bass!" And of course, George Harrison can easily improve my mood by reminding me that "Here Comes the Sun". But for now, Ringo is the man.

Why? The answer, much like the man himself, is both simple and complicated.

Ringo's drumming abilities have often been criticized, even by himself. He openly admits that he had technical deficiencies playing rolls around the drumset, partially due to the fact that he was playing a right-handed kit as a left-handed drummer. When John Lennon was asked if Ringo was the best drummer in the world, he replied jokingly "He's not even the best drummer in the Beatles!" However, he has also been recognized for his incredible influence in the drumming world by some of the best in the field. Journey's Steve Smith summed it up by saying “ Before Ringo, drum stars were measured by their soloing ability and virtuosity. Ringo’s popularity brought forth a new paradigm in how the public saw drummers. We started to see the drummer as an equal participant in the compositional aspect. One of Ringo’s great qualities was that he composed unique, stylistic drum parts for the Beatles songs." Paul McCartney once sent Ringo a post card saying "You're the greatest drummer in the world. Really."

Personally, Ringo is the one who drew me (and I'm sure many others) in as a Beatles fan at a young age. He is so funny and has a strange charisma that really appealed to me, and still does. I remember watching "The Yellow Submarine" for the first time and being really taken in by his character with lines like "Must be one of those unidentified flying cupcakes." and "I've got a hole in me pocket." Check out this clip which features Ringo to see what I mean:


Ultimately, I think most us are a little like Ringo - We are all under appreciated at times, and we all have our critics. And yet, we each have the ability to make bring a smile to our best friends and to total strangers. This universal human connection is what makes Ringo stand out to me today.

May the Beat go on!

Today's Class

Students:

As you know by now, I am not here today.

Your assignment for today is to continue to work on your game and presentation. You don't have much time left before your presentations on the 20th & 21st. Make sure to do a learning log entry for today, and write a short blog post on your progress regarding your presentations.

Please work diligently for the full class period. at 3:15, report back to the guitar room to put away your computers. Don't forget to plug them up! DO NOT LEAVE THE GUITAR ROOM EARLY!

Also: I want to remind you about our special session next Tuesday (election day) from 10:00 to 2:00. I will be opening the guitar room shortly before 10 and we will be working in Mrs. Daigle's room. Bring your own food or money for pizza & drinks. We are going to accomplish alot during this time.

This session is not technically "required", however, it is highly recommended for all of you. If you need a ride, let me know. I would love to have all of you here for this great opportunity as we work towards your final presentations!

Great Resource for Presentations!

Hey everyone,

Here is a link to a Game Presentation Demo Skeleton in Flash. This file was created by Meridith from the World Wide Workshop and it is a great starting point as you assemble your final presentation slide shows.

Download it, check it out, and customize it for your own use!

Good luck

Helpful link for Jumping!!!

Check out the tutorial on Meridith's wiki page.

STEM Competition Updates:

Students who are participating in the STEM competition: Please check out the following info and make sure you are meeting the deadlines for the contest.

FROM RACHEL ROSENFELT, Globaloria Assistant Director:

We have created a STEM Games Community site. Please review it, enjoy, and send your suggestions.

Here are some steps to follow and actions to consider:

1. Add this link to your school's wiki homepage tomorrow.

2. Encourage your students to explore STEM game-makers across the WV community.

3. Encourage your students to provide positive feedback on blogs and wikis will foster healthy sportsmanship, and help all STEM game-makers raise the bar for their own game.

4. Take a look at the STEM Thinking page. We created blog prompts that we strongly recommend your students answer.

5. Blog prompts that show quality STEM thinking will be considered by the competition judges when they make their final decisions.

6. We have extended the due-date for Paper Prototype Submissions to April 10. (WE WERE ON BREAK, PLEASE LINK TEAM PAGES THIS WEEK)

7. Submit a link to your team page when the paper prototype is uploaded at the MyStemGames.org page.

Please check out all of this material and update your materials as necessary to ensure your preparedness for the STEM Competition.

Mapping out your game plan for the rest of the year!

Students:

Our class has come a long way throughout the year in our game design journey. Believe it or not, we have less than 8 weeks left in the school year for seniors!

While we have had many great successes along the way, it is important that we finish strong with quality game demos or even better complete games! We will be presenting our games or demos to a panel of your peers, other teachers and administrators, and members of the Globaloria community locally and at a distance via the web! These presentations will be scheduled near the end of the school year as a culminating event for our class.

In addition, many of you will be presenting your games or demos for the STEMS competition in April and May.

Your blog assignment due this Thursday is to outline specifically how you are going to approach your your game design as it comes closer to the final presentation dates. How will you use class time to complete your game or demo? How can you use out of class time to help in meeting your overall goals? Can you blog outside of class? Can you work on soundtrack material outside of class?

Suggestion: Start with the end in mind. What do you believe you can clearly accomplish by the end of the year from where you are now? Then set up smaller checkpoint goals for each week, and then each class. Measure your successes and re-evaluate your goals and plans often. This will give you the greatest chance for success as we reach the end of the year.

Good Luck and Godspeed!

New Wiki Posting Protocol

Students:

In order to keep wiki management as simple as possible, we are now requiring all files uploaded to use the following format.

GEHS_TeamName_FileName_MonthDay.swf

This will help those who have to maintain the wiki with organization, it will prevent unintentional file overwriting, and it will help you remember which file is which.

ASSIGNMENT:

Today, upload your most recent swf and fla for your game with the new file naming method. Embed the swf and link to the fla to show that you understand the procedure.

Good Luck!

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

Fact: We have had an incredible amount of snow.

Fact: The loss of literally weeks of school has given us a legitimate reason for being behind in our goals.

Fact: In the end, you can either have reasons or results.....Reasons don't count.

So, whenever we are in the classroom, or when we have the opportunities online, we must make the most of it.

I gave a blogging assignment before we began our snow days. As a reminder, here are the instructions:

1. Compose a blog post in which you discuss an actionscript 2.0 ability you would like to incorporate into your game.

2. Find a video tutorial (Check Viddler)online and embed it into your post. If you cannot find a video tutorial, try to find a written tutorial with .fla and .swf (try Free ActionScript)files and link to it in your post.

3. Bonus points if you embed the .swf and examples of the actual actionscript with descriptions of what it does.

EVERYONE is expected to complete this blogpost by our second class meeting after the snow days.

Motivating Others - You can't do it. (please keep reading)

Here we are midway through the school year. During these shorter winter days, we can all struggle at times with staying energized. As students and teachers who entered classes in the fall fresh and excited, we may now find ourselves struggling to "keep the faith" with whatever it is we're doing. Our goals in regards to progress in game design, as well as other school related expectations, may now seem harder to reach. It's not hard to see how one could lose motivation at this time of the year.

So, how do we stay motivated, and how can we motivate others? This question has been around for years, and there have been many theories and possibilities have been tested.

You could try to hire a motivational speaker:


But ladies & gentlemen, I have to tell you something. Something you probably know, but don't want to believe.

The truth is, you can't really motivate someone else. Not in a lasting, significant way.

You cannot motivate someone else whuh.....

That's right: You can't motivate someone else, but you can motivate yourself. And through your self motivation, it is very possible that you might just inspire others around you to motivate themselves.

I've seen this for years in the world of high school band. If I am not excited about something that we are working on, often the students will reflect this attitude. But, if I am excited (sometimes it takes personal motivation on my part to get there), I put more energy into it. And when I put more energy into something, whether it be a piece of music or a lesson about ActionScript, students around me seem to get inspired and show more excitement themselves.

As a Globaloria educator, I have found that the more I invest myself in self-learning, the more motivated I become to teach the next lesson. It is exciting to share new information. (why do you think gossip shows and magazines are so popular?) And those around us are sure to pick up on this excitement and become more self motivated.

This comes a little "back to the basics", but I believe the best way that I can motivate others is by being prepared and learning the skills myself. In music, this involves studying scores, listening to professional recordings, in some cases communicating with the composer, and researching the story behind the composition. In Globarloria, it is accomplished by taking on personal flash projects, finding tutorials, looking for things to blog about, and keeping up the wiki.

Through this preparation, we make ourselves more confident, proficient, and MOTIVATED. This type of motivation is sure to rub off on others.

For more reading and insightful theories on this, download the free eBook How to Motivate Creative People (Including Yourself) by Mark McGuinness.

Or, you could just hire a motivational speaker....

Assignments for Friday's Class

Students,

As you know, I will not be in class on Friday. So.....

Here are your assignments:

1. Complete any work from Wednesday that is still incomplete.

2. Read the "New Year's Resolutions for Globaloria" post. Then write your own post listing your accomplishments and three resolutions you have for yourself in Globaloria in 2010.

3. Check out the "Top Down RPG Tutorial" post. Download the RPG fla file and study the notated ActionScript. Be prepared to discuss this code in next Wednesday's class. What actions do you think you might use in your game?

Good Luck and Have Fun!!!

New Year's Resolutions for Globaloria

Happy New Year everyone!

author's note: The inspiration for this post came from Mr. Bill Dorsey of Capital High School who has a great post on New Year's Resolutions.

As we conclude the first semester of Globaloria we have a great opportunity to look back on the successes we've had so far. At Greenbrier East we are half way through our year long curriculum, while other schools are finished or getting ready to complete their semester long class.

I am amazed at the accomplishments I have seen in my class to this point. We have had great mini-game projects, active blogs, creative wiki pages, and we have tackled some big chunks of actionscript! Our team game projects are on track and have potential to produce some nice final games. Check out some of our class' work:

Here is Tyler's first complete mini game!

And some nice Title Screen/Button work by Team Tangerine (Silas & Casey)!

Of course all you have to do is check out some of the blogs from our classes blog roll to see the progress that we have made there.

However, with all the success we have had so far, now is not the time to rest on our proverbial laurels. Instead, we should all take advantage of the knowledge we have gained and build on it as we move forward. We all can take the opportunity that "New Year's Resolutions" offer to make progress in our Globaloria endeavors.

Here are my personal resolutions as a Globaloria educator:

1. Continue to build my personal Flash skills in order to demonstrate best practice for my students.

2. Keep up the Main Page of the GEHS wiki so that it is an exciting and dynamic website for students and visitors. I would like to do this with regularly updated tutorials and links to insightful blogs and game examples. I would also like to get Mr. Warfield and Mrs. Daigle involved in this process.

3. Allow my blog experience to evolve as I find new ways to utilize the medium. To do this, I must keep an open mind and a fluid perspective as I observe other blogs and consider my needs and those of my students.

Now, I want to pass on the challenge that Mr. Dorsey of Capital H.S. first proposed.

What are your New Year's Resolutions for Globaloria? Write your own blogpost where you consider your past successes and list the resolutions that you have for 2010 in your Globaloria experience!

Snowed-in Tutorial: Top Down classic RPG

So, we've had a little bit of an extended break, and how have I cured my cabin fever? By trying to get a leg up on my game design skills. Since several of our teams are planning to make old school style, top down RPGs I thought I would hunt for a good tutorial.

I found this great AS2 RPG tutorial on a blog called Tagify. While this tutorial is loaded with great info, it does have its drawbacks for our purposes.

First of all, the script is not written in an "Actions" layer the way we write it, but rather it is encoded on the movie clip it refers to. Therefore you will see some unfamiliar scripts. For instance, you will see "onClipEvent" instead of "onEnterFrame". Another difference is the use of "this" or "_root.MovieClipName" in place of the instance name of a particular movie clip.

I have made the necessary adjustments (and some additions) in my version.

Here is a link to the fla. I have included descriptions of what each chunk of code does.

For those of you planning a top down RPG, this will be of great help. And of course there is more we can do and explore in class.

Good Luck - I'll see everyone soon!