Let the Games Begin…

Today, I divided my class into teams and had them start their initial discussions about the area of focus they want to pursue and the type of competition in which they wish to participate.

The majority seemed to immediately lean toward STEM type games, but I cautioned them not to make a hasty decision and to let each team member fully participate in the discussion. It was interesting to listen to the give and take going on around the classroom. A repeating thread in the discussions seemed to center up the idea that if  students were not good in math, or not good in history, they didn't want to have anything to do with a game covering that subject. I tried to caution them that perhaps that is exactly the area their games should focus upon.  I explained that not only would they be helping themselves to further acquire some mastery in a subject they find difficult, but that they also may have the opportunity to create a game that will, in the future, provide an easier learning path for students yet to reach their grade level.

That thought seemed to have some impact as if for the first time they considered that what they were about to embark upon could have a lasting and positive effect on someone they have never met. As a teacher I could relate, isn't that why we are here? We know we will affect our students, but we secretly hope our influence will then be passed on by our students to others, yet unknown.

The seed was planted today, time will tell.
Will it grow, or will it wither.

MiniGame Games

Ah, the joys of the mini-game project.

In my game design course, one of the projects  we undertake is the development of a mini-game—a one level game where you are a rabbit chasing a carrot and a wolf chases you. If you get the carrot before the wolf gets you, you score points. If the wolf gets you first, you lose points.

It's a simple concept, but it teaches many of the concepts used in almost all games: A character controlled by the player; an antagonist using artificial intelligence to stalk the protagonist; dynamic scoring, scrolling objects, and hit or collision tests to register the game play.

The students are provided with the game pieces and then are lead through the various steps  in Flash necessary to code the game. It really is a great way to introduce the students to the concept of using a scripting program such as Flash to construct a game.

Of course, with any "language" on a computer, accuracy in writing code is always paramount. Because computer languages are limited to the keys on the keyboard, each keystroke is jealously guarded. There are simply no throw away keystrokes. This strict attention to detail, and obsessive judiciousness in accounting for the effect of each and every keystroke applied, is usually quite a shock for young students, who are used to operating in the modern society where close enough is good enough.

That world comes to a screeching halt when it comes to writing code. It's a fun process to observe in your students, as they are forced to pay attention to each and every keystroke. It requires discipline, and logic to adhere to coding constructs. If there is one thing that American education could benefit from it is certainly  the introduction of material that requires students to exhibit a thoughtful, disciplined approach to the subject at hand.

Moving Along.... Literally

Well our move into our new home is complete, we now have cable and internet connected and slowly things are getting normalized. When you move after 35 years in one location, it is quite a disruption in  your life.

Besides that, it is a tremendous amount of work. We have been working non stop since January de-cluttering, painting, fixing up, cleaning out, redecorating and doing all the little things that make a house desirable on the open market.

We decided to sell the home ourselves, and in retrospect, it worked out well for us. After only three days on the market, we had an acceptable offer from the third couple we showed the house to—a great young couple who are expecting their first child in April! The expectant mother is a graduate of Wheeling Park, who played basketball with our daughter and whose parents live several blocks away. She and her husband moved back to Wheeling from New York and they were thrilled to be able live in her old neighborhood, and we we thrilled to sell our house to a young couple who are about the same age we were when we bought the house. What's that about a circle of life?

The inspection, appraisal, and closing went without a hitch, so all in all we are quite pleased, and are now settling into our smaller place, looking forward to less work and more time to devote to our students and ourselves.

I have an recently developed ongoing glitch with our school's grading program, for most of the last week, I haven't been able to access the grades or attendance for my game design class IT is trying to get this resolved but as of this morning, no luck.......

The joys of poorly designed software. I wish everything in life worked as well as my Macs.