Microworlds Virtual Animation - Game Creations

Again, I definately would have seperated the two conepts of the virtuals stories and game creations into two seperate periods, but alas, you live you learn. But this particular activity certain teen latched onto and had a blast.

Microworlds Virtual Animation - Game Creations

Big Idea: Provide the tools in Microworlds for the teens to be confident in creating thier own basic video game.

Dates: Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Groups Participating: Panther Boys and Girls Club Teens

Attendance: 5 students - Joshua, Eddie, Michael, Leanthis and Braela

Software: Microworlds

Hardware: One laptop and one mouse per student

Directions: This activity propells the teens into creating more complex programs through two new conepts - the programming of buttons with varying commands and the introduction to the turtle and its potential for activities. This will be in my improvement section, but I definately would create, with the teens, a visual record of all commands the turtle responds to. Here's an idea - mabye make this an interactive activity by listing all sorts of actions, then have them guess the how it would be said in the programming. After its been guessed, have the one who guessed closest or correctly write it up on a a board or sketch pad. Just an idea.
Again, if I ran through all the commands to teach, this blog would take some time, so be sure to create your own and learn the steps. The most basic game I taught to start them out was the simple maze where the turtle would not be able to pass throught walls, and buttons created include start, stop, up, down, left, right. Then using the various characters and backrounds, thier creativity takes it from there.

Associated Concepts: Pragramming, programming, programming.

Best Part: Joshua's "fly" and thomas' maze definately were the most successful products created in game creations. When the kids played them on our showcase day, these were two of the most attractive projects to them for sure.

Worst Part: Not having the visual for commands. For that reason, every 10 seconds Gabe and I needed to help a teen, which worked out because only 4 teens were working at a time, but I have a feeling if the commands were provided it would require far less work for us and far more participation with the teens.

Improvements: Again, create with the teens a visual record of all commands the turtle responds to. Mabye make this an interactive activity by listing all sorts of actions, then have them guess the how it would be said in the programming. After its been guessed, have the one who guessed closest or correctly write it up on a a board or sketch pad. Also, we didn't have time this time, but when the class begins, make creating the mazes a competion where at the end of the period evryone plays eachothers, and it is voted on whose is the most successful, but most difficult. The year before we deemed the winner the title "Maze Master".

Overall, the teens who have never done this do love it. Create your own first, create a visual command guide, make a competition of it, and you'll have a blast.

myles