Frustration...

Frustration is the name of the game right now.  I feel like I am running circles with the students.  So many of these kids are in here only because there was nothing else to sign up for.  The equipment isn't working well.  We don't have Flash 5 installed and may not until JANUARY!!??  I strongly feel that middle school first year student NEED a different curriculum...they can not keep up and then just give up.  I admit to strongly relying on my "senior" students and am very thankful that they are there to help or I would probably pull every bit of my hair out! 

"We" are just now on playing to learn and choosing a topic.  There is no way we will have the prototype done in time to enter the contest.  Some of my students haven't even DECIDED what there game will be.  I can see that it's going to be a fight to get them to make their games educational.  I am thinking next year that I may assign topics...

Take a minute to evaluate where you are...

Guys, I've been asked to adjust the schedule to match where you are.  As we discussed last week, as a class, we are all over the place.  Some of you are missing class, some of you are wasting time and some of you are working on blogs and wiki's at home.  Blogging and your wiki are the two things that you can work on anytime you have an internet connection.  I know that we still struggle with connectivity in the classroom and we are fighting to have computers that work, therefore it is more important than ever that you use every minute you can when you do have a computer that works.

MAKE SURE you are blogging after each section is finished.  So far you should have an introductory blog, Join the Community, etc...Check your wiki!!  Remember to update the flash items that you make to your wiki.

Checklists will be reviewed next week and your paper prototype needs to be ready to film by the 14th!

ARGH>>>>

OK guys!  I know that we are having blogger issues.  I am doing this blog from home!  I hope it posts.  I want to remind you to TRY and blog as you finish each session!!  Some of you are doing Meet Flash and some are working on your Mini Game already!  GREAT job!  You're learning so many things that your games will be fabulous!  Please make sure to answer the questions indicated at the end of your wiki ON THE BLOG!  We should be able to access now that the switch has been replaced!!!  Good LUCK!!!

I am watching YOU!!!!!  :-)

Blogging

We've been in school almost 3 weeks now and we are moving along slowly.  Most of you will just create your blog this week and make your first blog post.  Introduce yourself, let us know who you are and what you are interested in.  Make sure you include a picture.

This is going to be the place to come every day once we get set up.  I will post your assignment and your learning log ideas for the day on my blog.  You will need to blog at least once a week AND every time you finish a section, you must answer the questions at the end by blogging the answers.

Have fun with this and remember, blogging and wiki updates CAN be completed at home!!

Week 2...

Well, we're havfing connection issues again, but you all have handled that very well!  This week our plan is to continue learning about our wiki's and to learn to make a blog.  Remember to update your learning log daily and answer all questions from the wiki on your blog.  Don't get upset if connection becomes an issue and you don't get something uploaded...we'll get it the next day.

Learning....

We are quickly learning the limits of technology and how much we can get done in a class period.  You've done well with your surveys and all but one of us have a wiki account.  Tomorrow we will begin the course overview so you'll have a really good idea of the adventure we're embarking on.  We'll then get started on making our individual wikis.  Check out Bryce, Ethan, Anthony or Frank's wiki pages to get an idea of what you can do!

Ready for a new year!!!

Hi guys!  It's time to get back to work in Game Design!  Those of you who are returning are going to find some new things on the wiki that are going to make your life easier!  Those of you who are just starting with us are going to have a great time learning to make an educational game! 

We have some important things to remember.  We are concentrating on SCIENCE concepts that are appropriate for YOUR grade level.  We also are going to make FUN educational games that are NOT quiz games!!

We already have two students who have started work on their game (I'll let you guess who...Bryce and Ethan)! :-)  If you're on facebook, search The Science Behind Magic to check up on their work!!

Check out this fun, educational game as you begin to think about what we're doing in this class!

Life:Discovery

End of the year...

Hi all!  I managed to get on my blog somewhere other than school.  Yay!  We have two days of class left.  You need to fill out the end of year survey and try to get your demo and/or game uploaded to the game gallery.  There will be no time to get any more presentations completed and up on the wiki, so that part will just not get done.

Thanks for working so hard this year.  I know it's been frustrating, especially trying to connect and not getting anywhere.  Next year we should have broadband and be able to connect much easier and quicker.  Think about game ideas and write them down in your notebook so we can get started sooner next year!!!

Demo's this week

I've scheduled us to show our demo's on Thursday.  We have five groups that must show them what they are doing.  Bryce and Ethan will be heading this up as I will be having minor surgery!  Please remember to show cooperation, speak clearly and loudly and really listen to the comments that you get!  Continue to work on games.  We'll turn in what you have on the deadline and then try to finish up by May 13th when class will effectively be over!

Demo presentations...

We have four groups that have presented and five that need to present next week.  Finish up those demo's quickly!
Those that have presented, we'll work on uploading to viddler so that you can make your video blog.

New 9 weeks

Afternoon all...
We are starting a new 9 weeks today!  I am trying to schedule demo presentations with Denise.  Make sure you are uploading as much as possible.  You're doing better with your blogs.  Make sure you update your learning log, EVEN THOUGH you might be doing the same basic thing everyday. 

Check out the new page on our wiki for my demo that I've worked on for the past couple of months!

Blogging and Wiki Updates

I know you are having the same frustration that I am!!  This is my executive decision!  On the board in my room is the day that your team should update on blogs and wiki's!  This should keep down the number on the internet at the same time and IF you still can't get things to open or your upload wont go, then you can use one of the two computers that aren't wireless!  They seem to connect better! 

Remember to keep working on those first couple of pages of your game so that they can be added to your demo and we can present!

UGH!

OK guys!  I finally got blogger working again on my computer.  I know some of us are having many frustrations with getting things uploaded and bloggi ng.

Keep working on your demo's and make sure when you upload that you put things on your individual page as well as your team page!  You are doing a great job.  Don't get discouraged...remember you'll show off those demo's soon!

When we have school...

OK guys!  You have your due date!  Your date for finishing the demo is Friday the 14th.  We need to start presenting to each other and taping so you can make your vlog (check out the questions on your wiki) and add your final demo video to your team page. 

Continue to keep your blogs updated twice a week...remember...you can include pics of your demos.  Also...don't forget your learning logs!