What I have learned this year....

I have learned a LOT in the course of this year...even though we missed three weeks of school due to snow! I learned a whole bunch of new coding. Like how to code animations, interaction, and navigation. I also learned how to import sounds into the game which was the easiest thing we learned all year and we used it the least! I learned a lot from my game about the government systems. I now know facts and differences between each of them when before this game I knew barely anything about them. I also learned valuable skills like public speaking from presenting the game. I really enjoyed this class and I will definitely be taking Game Design II.

My Civic Engagement Blog 4/30

Take the time to review the last few blog prompt answers from other Globaloria students in your knowledge community. Write comments on at least 2 students blogs who you have not commented on in the last 3 weeks.

This was done.

My Civic Engagement Blog 4/23

What Ideals concept is the hardest to teach in your game, and why do you think it's difficult to understand? How does your game effectively teach this concept?

Communism would be the hardest because the laws could change at anytime. Our game effectively teaches this because it uses different techniques which ensures better knowledge.

My Civic Engagement Blog 4/15

Researching and designing your game has shown you how many different ways the same information can be presented to an audience. Based on your Globaloria game-making experience, how do you feel about the way news and other sources might similarly manipulate information about civics? Do you have any advice for other students who want to seek out reliable media outlets? Please write 4 or more sentences.

News and media often manipulate information about civics to sound in their favor. I think this is wrong because it gives people false information which leads to false knowledge that will effect them later. Later with this false knowledge it can confuse them with how some things work. If a student wants to access a reliable media outlet they can go to CNN.com.

Here are part of their Terms of Service
-Governing Terms. This website, including the features and services available from the site such as RSS feeds, podcasts, and embeddable video, (collectively “CNN.com” or “Site”) is an interactive on-line service operated by CNN Interactive Group, Inc. ("CNN"). These Terms of Service, along with any additional terms and conditions that are referenced herein or that are presented elsewhere on the Site in relation to a specific service or feature (collectively “Terms of Service”) and the CNN Privacy Policy, set forth the terms and conditions that apply to your use of CNN.com. By using CNN.com, you agree to comply with all of the terms and conditions hereof. If you do not agree to these Terms of Service, you should not access or use CNN.com.

My Civic Engagement Blog 4/8

The technology of the 21st century has altered civic life greatly. Do you think access to virtual collaboration and communication has an impact on civic ideals? Why or why not? How has the process of designing and researching your game helped you develop your opinion? Please provide specific links and examples.

Adding Interaction Blog

I do like working in Flash, its really fun for me. I like working in Flash mostly because I like drawing in it then making my drawings come to life. Idk I can't really describe why I like it so much but after using it last year love it. My game topic is Underwater Nation where you learn the government systems. Our game is going well. We are doing the big and easy stuff too and after we finish that we will get into the small and detailed stuff.

My Civic Engagement Blog 3/25

Elkins High School. Underwater Nation. This game teaches the government systems. I think it will be effective because they give you a review, quiz you, and have you interact with the game. Doing all these different techniques effectively teaching you the government systems.

Adding Sound Blog

Sound in a game is really important. I mean how boring is a game that is completely silent? Giving a game sounds makes it more fun and interesting. In games I played it's more fun to have sounds tell you when you are right or wrong or some kind of sound that congratulates you when you win with the sound of trumpets or something. Something I've learned from the blogs I have followed is they gave some websites where I can find techniques.

http://www.smokeymctrees.com/blog/?p=43

Adding Animation Blog

The coolest thing about learning to animate is that after you draw everything it is "still" and then after you code it it moves! It's just pretty cool to do. Other animations that I admire are ones where you can use the < ^ v > arrows to make it move because it's cool to interact with the game.


Best Flash Animation - The funniest home videos are here

Adding Navigation Blog

Write about this topic? Was it hard? Fun? Both?
Find a video online to embed on your blog dealing with your game topic. Why did you choose this video?
I've made buttons before and it was always very easy for me but for some reason I had trouble getting it to work this time! Idk what was going on with the stupid thing. I had the scene names right, the instance names right and the coding right. It was just being difficult. I deleted a second button I had and then the button worked. Idk why. I'm just hoping I don't have more problems when I make another button.


Political Systems Explained for Dummies - Click here for this week’s top video clips

I chose this video because it has to do wit the topic of my game.

Planning Your Game Blog

1. I got the role of doing the first level of the game because I'm good at drawing and afficiant in coding.
2. We did have some disagreements because Zachary is new at Flash and doesn't know how to use the tools and no coding. He was concerned with having to do a level himself. We worked it out by agreeing that I would help him learn everything.
3. I look forward to drawing and coding and watching my game grow.
4. My inspiration for the game is the world under the sea.
5. Picture posted.

My Civic Engagement Blog 3/11

How well do you believe the average American citizen understands US Ideals and how they are applied in government? Why does it matter?

I think all citizens are aware of the US Ideals but I don't think they know as much as they should. It matters because people need to know their rights, the rules, and what gov. officials have what power.

PP Presentation Blog

Tell about your presentation went. Explain your ideas and what suggestions were given and what changes you are going to make.

During our presentation we told them our game ideas. Our game idea we want to create "Underwater Nation" where a scuba diver (Scuba Steve) will teach the player the different types of government systems. In the first level you will catch fish that describes the type government given. The second level of the game is to select a village given then study the actions of the fish and then type in what type of government they are acting out. They suggested ways to take the first level away and concentrate on the second level. They said to make it so the players can interact more with the game. They first suggested to make it do you can have different choices of questions to ask the fish and he/she will react in a different way with each question. Another suggestion was to do a scheme similar to "20 questions." Some changes we are planning to make to the game are to make it mainly the orginal second level and then add a more arcade like bonus level, make the players interact more, and then add in a game of questions.

My Civic Engagement Blog 2/25

Write a blog post to introduce yourself, your team and your game to the other students in the Ideals Community. Use the Ideals Resources information page to also explain how your game fits into the Ideals Knowledge Framework. Please include hyperlinks to your team page. This post must be a minimum of 5 complete sentences.

My name is Lindsey. I am a Junior at Elkins High. My team is Stellar and my partner is Zac. Our game is Underwater Nation. The game is about government systems which is under the Ideals resource list.

Paper Prototyping Blog

What do you like about paper prototyping? What don't you like? Why?

I liked drawing out the game, kind of giving us a rough draft to keep us organized and give us direction when making the actual game. I didn't like videotaping it. We kept messing up and we weren't confident when making it.

Imagining Your Game Blog

What are you most excited about as you start making your game?

I'm excited to draw everything and code it to make it all work. I like how I can start out from a blank stage and end up with a great animation game.

Mini Game Blog

Was it hard to make your mini game? What was the best part of this topic? The worst part?
Do you play games in your free time? Which ones do you play and why are they your favorite?

Making the game was hard at first because somehow I kept messing up the codes and I'd have to back and fix it. The best part is that it gave us experience with using flash which will help when we make our game. I also took the bonus points assignment and figured out the coding to make you lose points when the bunny eats pizza. It took forever for me to do but I was excited when I finally figured it out. No, I don't play games in my free time.

Choosing a Topic Blog

Write a blog post about why you chose these blogs and how you think they can help you think critically about your topic. What makes this blog better than others? What kinds of conversations are people having about your topic?

Blogs:
1. http://nydemocracyproject.org/page/
2. http://www.legalise-freedom.com/
3. http://thecommune.wordpress.com/
4. http://www.smokeymctrees.com/blog/?p=43

I chose these blogs because they can help me understand how the government systems they are talkingn about work. These blogs are better than others because they also talk about what is going on in different countries of these systems. They are talking about how they agree or disagree with the system and about the news in the countries. People can discuss what they feel is right and right in the governments and voice their opinions.

Game Ideas...

As our first game idea we want to create a "under water country" where a scuba diver (scuba steve) will teach the player the different types of government systems. As you learn you will catch fish that describes the type government given. Another part of the game is to swim through the bottom of the ocean and find the little cities of fish and tell what type of government they are by what their actions are.

Our second game will b a sports game to learn the bill of rights. You will learn by playing different games such as track, golf, or hockey. In each game a right will be described and you will run to, hit into a hole, or make a goal to the right number of the amendment.

Playing to Learn

I first played a professional game called 3rd World Farmer. It is a fun game....although I went into debt...three times. This game helps you understand the hardships of poor family farmers in developing countries. I think the graphics are very good but I feel that they could've made the game more animated and interactive.

The second game I played was GALAXY GUIDE: Operation: Government Branches made by students, Adam Burky and Caleb Judy. I found this game to be a good technique of learning but it may be a little to advanced for the elementary students it was directed towards. It can be hard for younger children to memorize 10 Amendments....but on the game they also weren't directed to. It doesn't even tell you that those 10 things listed are the Amendments. The graphics were pretty good for two high school boys. Although, the game can be considered difficult when the bills are dropping so close together making them hard to catch. I can tell the coding was done right and organized. Over all....pretty good.

Participation Guidelines

The two guidelines I found that could be most effective is not to post personal information, and to give positive constructive feedback.

Personal Information -- you don't want to put your instant messenger screen name, or phone number because someone could decide to STALK you.

Constructive Feedback -- personally I like positive feedback because it helps me to know if others think my game is interesting, give me tips to improve my game, and how I could make my game more appealing to others.

What I expect from Globaloria....

1. What do you hope to do in the Globaloria course?

2. What kind of game will you make?

3. What are you most excited or scared about?

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1. I hope to make fun and interesting games.

2. I plan to make a learning game? I'm not sure yet.

3. I'm most excited about making the game and scared if people will like it when presenting it.