So I remembered that a certain game was brought up in class and I wondered how it could be used in the classroom. This game was Minecraft. I have heard about it before seeing how I normally try to Mod (make changes in the programing/picture/game play/ect) and I have never full played it before. I got into modding Minecraft because my brother always played it and I tried to make weird things for him to try out. After doing some research I found something by Andrew Webster about a teacher, Joel Levin, who decided to integrate Minecraft into the classroom. I wonder if I should make this a new learning project. I think I am going to learn how to play and see just how much fun it is and do more research in how to use it in the class room.
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This week my task is to try out an educational game. I am going to try out Math Blaster. The reason I choose this site was because it looked the least boring:p First i was asked to make an account with my parents name and email so they can monitor my email. Then it asked for a nickname for myself. Next I was asked to download it. I guess this is a online multiplayer game. This game (bottom) you ride a bike and then run into “bosses” that you need to defeat by answering math questions.
So far i don’t overly like this game because there is too much trying to figure it out. I think this game is one that might help a student to figure things out on their own and think about things more. It wasted a lot of time to register, to get use to it, and patience. This other game (left) you need to shoot the asteroids that have the correct answer on them. The game seems like a waste to me. I think that this game teaches kids to think quickly to answer questions when things are flashing at them. Will this help someone when they sit in the classroom during a test when everything is quiet? Probably not. What are your thoughts? I think the good old classic memory game or simple flash cards work better.
So we needed to make a movie on the life of a university student. This was actually very difficult. My partner Danielle Beuker and I had fun filming and such but had a hard time editing it. We never had the greatest communication but we got it done after some technical problems and school problems. So where should I begin? Well during our ecmp355 class on Wednesday we started filming with a limited time frame. after 30 seconds or so my camera said it was full. I thought all the pictures were off and it was good to use, nope! There was over 600 pictures on the camera. So now after we walked so far away from the class room, we needed to go back to the computers to take the pictures off and then try to film the rest of the video. Next after we started to edit we realized that there was no sound for some of the shots and we could not figure it out. So, we now had to do voice overs when we got home. Unfortunately our schedules were so bad that we just could not meet and get things done. A couple days ago I get an email from Danielle with what she had for the video, well sure enough I couldn’t view the video. After about a week of asking around no one knows what we could do so I can view the project on my computer. Hopefully Danielle Just posts it and we will be okay
So, I am a scout leader again this year and one of the things we need to do is create fun ideas for games and teachings. Now that Halloween is almost here, we need to have a Halloween party. However, I am not sure what I should do this year. In the past we have done the typical haunted house where we have spaghetti as brains, grapes for eyes, dry ice, and so on. I need some new ideas. If you can please help me out that would be fantastic! I just want a change from the typical. Our scout meeting is Thursday so I need ideas fast. Also, if anyone was wondering I am in the 84th Cubs in Regina, Sk.
Due to some technical difficulties we do not have our movie up yet. Please be patient with us.
So I know it has been a while from when I last posted about my learning project so here is an update. After doing some more work in programing I realized that there wasn’t many more you tube clips from the guy I was learning from. So now this week I need to try and find some more books or I just need to randomly type and see what happens. I was told that just thinking of things on my own was one of the best or “true” ways of learning. The big differences in what I know and what I am learning is that this program is very specific when it comes to where spaces, tabs, and extra lines go (why that is I don’t know). I am finding it fun, but sometimes I get mad at my work because I simply just don’t know what to type next. It’s kinda frustrating. Hope fully I kind find something that will show you what the program looks like when it is being used but I can’t find anything (sorry). Hopefully I’ll remember/have more to write on the blog more often. Thanks for reading
Simple little things, that we tend to forget, can make the first day of classes run smoothly. Mary C. Clement from Berry College, GA published “Ten Things to Make the First Day (and the Rest) of the Semester Successful” in a teaching magazine. Simple things like writing your name on the bored can help students. Check it out and see what you think. Leave comments and give your two cents.
So after spending another half an hour looking though video after video, I found a great beginning for my programing. A channel called “Tekboi” has stepped up and made some videos online to share. I have learned a good basic idea of what to do and I will keep learning. I am going to attempt to post some photos of my programs code and what it looks like. Please forgive the crude labeled comments on the code ;p
So after a few hours of reading, I am starting to wonder if this was a bad idea :p. I guess now it’s time to bring in my friend and see what he recommends.