tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941584502569095453.post154105488631060118..comments2024-03-28T07:11:56.399-07:00Comments on Wordsmith VG: User Generated Content and the Path to an Interactive EducationWordsmith VGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11677608046266706879noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941584502569095453.post-16615903383325223012011-05-23T23:26:36.006-07:002011-05-23T23:26:36.006-07:00When I read mention of Beyond the Titanic, I immed...When I read mention of Beyond the Titanic, I immediately thought of Douglas Adams' <i>Starship Titanic</i>, but nope. Not quite.<br /><br />I'm not good at video games. My theory is that therein lies the reason I have to play them all the time. And I'm also not good at lateral thinking. Not in the slightest. Combine the two and you find here the worst possible candidate for playing interactive fiction games. I have tried. I have several friends who are working in the video game industry, and a few have linked me to some interesting games, but none of which I could ever finish. I hate using walkthroughs, so many games get permanently put on hold.<br /><br />Also- don't kid yourself. I'm a young'un with much to learn. I'm 22. I make (badly-drawn) pictures of chickens. I play too many games. I watch too much anime. Your posts are VASTLY more interesting than mine- and better written.<br /><br />My students tell me a lot about Justin Bieber (soooo many of my students are DEFINITELY going to marry him). I'm sure there's something exciting out the other side of your current job.<br /><br />As a maths/IT teacher, I've found that the best tools come from other teachers. In terms of game creation, it could certainly be a fun project to get students to think through what would make a <i>playable</i> piece of interactive fiction. I do wish I had more involvement in English, Humanities, etc. and with the new face of the Bendigo Education Plan, I see that being a real possibility in a team teaching environment. At this stage I have little to do with which areas of the VELS we're covering this term, but I look forward to further building my tool set and laying some fun projects down next year.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369840743930007954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941584502569095453.post-14902290758687761942011-05-23T16:42:41.354-07:002011-05-23T16:42:41.354-07:00Evan, there's something that I've been avo...Evan, there's something that I've been avoiding since I subscribed to your blog: You are clearly smarter than I am. I can fake it, but you step into the classroom every day while I work at a place that sells Justin Bieber CDs. I’m afraid that I can’t offer you much.<br /><br />That being said: As a console gamer primarily, my grasp of PC games, let alone free ones that a class could use, is rather limited. One thing I can think of that could help is Minecraft, though only the old version is free. Another is Streets of Rage Remake, which is free and modable, but Sega slapped it with the banhammer and it’s probably too violent and simple for school.<br /><br />As a certified English teacher, I see much value in interactive fiction, such as Zork. As a science (right?) teacher - though you’ve got the heart of an English teacher, let me tell you - this might not be the best for your classes. BUT! Read this, if you have time: http://wordsmithvg.blogspot.com/2009/11/interactive-fiction-missing-link.html<br /><br />Interactive fiction might be just the thing to jumpstart some good discussion. It worked for me!Wordsmith VGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11677608046266706879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-941584502569095453.post-15775016090102871572011-05-23T15:29:46.146-07:002011-05-23T15:29:46.146-07:00Perhaps. Although that pointless struggle was exac...Perhaps. Although that pointless struggle was exactly what me and my friends needed to get enthused about maths. The thrill of the chase, the chance for direct peer comparison. Lots of fun.<br /><br />I feel like a mod might be a really good project for my yr. 7s and 8s (12-14 year olds).<br /><br />Any suggestions about which game/level design utility would be best? And importantly: Freely and legally available?<br /><br />The topic I'm writing lesson plans for is: "Everybody's Internet: Digital Content Creation - Web 2.0"<br /><br />Any ideas?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08369840743930007954noreply@blogger.com