Paper Prototype 1

The paper prototype really adds the vision you have for the game. It helps the person put the plans into action! It really allows the plans to come to life and be seen. It makes the designer think about what the scenes should look like and show. Now that I have done this a few times in the past, this makes much more since, and I can avoid spending so much time on this process. I can put enough on paper to help me to plan out my game. I have drawn out a human body for the prototype. I have narrowed a few things down through this planning. I hope to start drawing this in flash very soon. I think the students seem to be spending to much time on this process. They are trying to put to much into this plan. However, this seems to be helping them see how their game will look. Most of all, this is helping the students plan through their game. It helps them to see things much clearer. It has helped the students and I have an idea about the instructions, the themes, and the color scheme. It has helped to visualize the "big picture" of the game.

Hidden Object Game Vision

I envision a game that is fun and educational. I think a game that utilizes the various body systems to teach where they are and what functions they perform. I hope to design a hidden object game that has the player looking for the parts of the respiratory system. I am excited to design a game that may be used in my health classes. I really believe that this will be a good advertisement for globaloria in the future, as well as something fun for my students and I to use in the classroom. I think this will be a great addition to the teaching strategies in my classroom. This will get the attention of some gamers in the class. I think this will motivate and encourage the students to learn about the body systems. Finally, I am excited to try something new. I have gotten somewhat comfortable with some flash concepts. Fortunately, this will push me to grow and continue to make progress with flash. I am looking forward to working more on this game!

Hidden Object Topic

I choose this topic after I played one of the game temporal taxonomy on the playing to learn section. I thought about what would be a good topic to use in my health classes. The temporal taxonomy game was a great deal of fun, which emphasizes the comparisons of various species. This inspired me to try to make learning about the respiratory system as fun and playable for my health classes. I really feel that this can be a game that is used in health to teach and compare the various body systems. I think I can have some fun with it. Hopefully, the students will have some fun and learn something as well. We will see!

Play to Learn

Once again, I realize just how little I actually know about flash and game design. I see such a need to push myself and learn new concepts and ideas. It is always amazing to see the creations and abilities of others, when playing their games. I really enjoyed the graphics and details in the games I was able to play in this section. I was impressed with the mouse control and flash concepts that added fun to the missions on temporal taxonomy. It encourages the player to continue playing and trying more missions and hopefully learning about various species and their differences. In fact, it encourages further depth of knowledge with comparing the types of species. I look forward to learning more about these concepts and adding them to my abilities.

New Class

This year seems to be going great! The students are excited and encouraging one another and myself to make progress. Things are going surprisingly smooth and without a great deal of problems. However, we are behind our schedule and plans for the class. I am still extremely optimistic and encouraged to see the students willing to work together and make progress. Our frustration level seems to be very low and manageable. I have very high expectations for both classes this year!

Growth and encouragement

It is so much fun to witness learning and excitement through the life of a student. It is such a privilege to be able to participate and influence the growing process of a middle school student. Honestly, it is quite frightening at many times throughout the year. Fortunately, it is inspiring to see students becoming responsible adults! It is great to see students make progress with the important things of life. While they may not perform great with their grades or conduct, many globaloria students have learned and grasped things that will influence needed abilities throughout thier lives. Middle school students are talented and adaptive. They are able to do much more than what I often give them credit for accomplishing. Therefore, it is nothing short of a miracle to see them mature into young men and women. I have witnessed overcoming various obstacles and conflicts. I have been involved in relational problems that would make any adult blush. Fortunately, I ahve been able to see the students work out their problems in a great manner. I am truly a blessed educator and parent.

Renewed Energy

I have been reminded about the reason I chose to be an educator. It is always exciting to see the "light-bulbs" shine through the students. It has brought some great energy and focus to our class. The students have expressed their pride in actually completing something that is visible. They really enjoyed working together and playing the creations that their students were able to complete.

Many of the struggling students are so proud of themselves. Honestly, they have a great deal to be proud of! Although the coding and substance of their platform games was very confusing and difficult, many of the students learned and applied so much to their games. It is still encouraging to be able to witness the excitement of learning and accomplishing something that lacks ease!

Code confidence

I have had the privilege to work in our new version of flash. I am becoming more and more comfortable with it. Fortunately, the students are showing me a great deal of helps and possibilities inside of this version. The students seem to be really enjoying it. They are able to adapt and adjust and continue to do amazing things.

I have high expectations for the students. In fact, I was able to complete my first platform game, through the help of our January Academy. I am looking forward to sharing my comforts and renewed confidence in flash 5.5. I am certain the students will be able to pick up some great codes and skills through my game and new understanding.

The students seem really on task and focussed. They have a renewed sense of urgency and dedicaion to working on their game. They have several suggestions and helps to incorporate into their games. Spring is on its way and bringing a positive outlook.

Game demos

Now that the new year is upon us, the students seem to be focussed and on task. They were very proud of their game demonstrations. Most of all, they were excited about the feedback and experience they gained through their presentations. They had a few spelling and flash problems, but they worked through them.

Fortunately, the students and class have a much better understanding of what is expected of them. They seem very excited about working on their games. They have much more direction and ideas about where their game is going. Once again, I am encouraged and excited to witness the energy and hard work the students are investing in their games. I am very happy to feel optimistic and good about the students. I look forward to their games!

Paper Prototype

The students seemed to really enjoy putting their ideas onto paper. This seemd to help them discuss their ideas with their partners. It was really encouraging to see them work together and get their creativity moving forward. Everything was very colorful! They really seemed to take a lot of pride in their drawings. I am really looking forward to watching their videos of their prototypes.
I think they have learned a great deal about their games and ideas through this assignment. It provided some wonderful opportunities to discuss their game concepts and learning objectives. It seemed to help focus their ideas and move them in the right direction. Once again, I am looking forward to their focus and direction.

Game Ideas

It is still encouraging to see the excitement the students are expressing. They are very excited to make the smallest progress with their games. They seem to be really enjoying drawing and discussing their scenes and ideas. It is great to see the eagerness they have to learn and move forward with their ideas.
After the initial complaints about thier partners, they really seem to be cooperating extremely well. They are discussing and adding various input about their game ideas. I am very pleased to witness the teamwork and focus the students are expressing. Likewise, I am very excited and eager to watch the progress and see the results of their hardwork and cooperation.

Changing seasons

I love the fall colors and changing temperatures. I think that everything seems to yell for attention and evaluation. This is the case for my new globaloria students as well. The students have enjoyed making their wiki pages and evaluating game thoughts and ideas. Now they appear to be roaring to get going on thier games.

It is very interesting to see the passion and interest the students have in starting a game that is interactive, fun, and educational. It is great to see the discussions, and often debates of the various partners about how they envision their games. As the temperatures change, it is time to witness the change in the students. It is time to guide their passions and interests for learning and designing important games! May the attention and evaluation be given to funnel the passion of learning.

New Start!

We are finally back in the grind of things. After a familiar feeling of being overwhelmed, things seem to be getting better. This has been my first actual start of a new year, which brings with it several trials and frustrations. Fortunately, the new students seem eager to get moving with their partners and game designs. It is always very encouraging to witness the drives and motivations of students who want to accomplish great things.
We seem to have things moving in the right direction. The students have their blogs connected to their wiki pages. They have made several updates and uploads to their personal pages. It is really fun and exciting to see the smallest accomplishments create such enthusiasm with the students.
Thankfully, I have also reached the similar feeling of making progress with my personal learning, as well as helping students to move forward.

High Expectations

Now that I have moved passed the deer-in-headlights look, I feel like I can push students to build on what they learned and accomplished last year. With the climate and support at Sandy River Middle School, great things should be expected. Now that the students and I have a few months under our belt, excitement is in the air!
I am learning how to maneuver through flash and game concepts in an encouraging manner. I feel much more confident with guiding students in their game designs. Having witnessed the accomplishments and work invested in the final game presentations, I am encouraged to think about the obstacles and abilities of upcoming students.
However, I have a desire to continue my growth. I have a much better understanding of how little I really know about flash and game designs. Therefore, I have a committment to invest more time and effort to keep the expectations high. I feel very privileged to be surrounded with the support and encouragement needed to keep moving forward. Although I still have regular feelings and thoughts of being overwhelmed, I truly feel optimistic about the upcoming year. Great things are in the making!

Growth

It has been a tremendous privilege to witness the growth and maturation of many students. I have had the opportunity to watch them overcome many obstacles that seem to influence a great deal of learning. While many aspects of middle schooltend to push students toward becoming adults, their globaloria experience has encouraged maturation in several different ways.
Many of the students gained some needed abilities in communication this year. Students were required to work with a partner to meet deadlines, finish adequate assignments, and complete their games together. Many of my students learned how to be better listeners and develop abilties to compromise with the opinions and interests of others. In many instances, the students became much more expressive.
Fortunately, a few students gained the needed confidence to be more outgoing and optimistic about their own futures. I was able to see some of the students overcome a fear of public speaking, which transferred to many other aspects of their lives. Their confidence became evident with their demeanor and social actions.
It is very encouraging to see the progress the students have made in so many areas of their lives outside of the globaloria assignments. However, I firmly believe that these assignments had a tremendous influence on gaining these maturation skills. It is always an added positiveto witness the application of these needed skills and abilities. The students seem very prepared forthe next stages of their lives.

Game Presentations

I have been very proud of the student work presented throughout their game presentations. They have really made great progress with their games. They have really taught me a great deal about making adjustments and overcoming obstacles. I am really encouraged to have witnessed such an expression of dedication and perseverence. I was very proud of a couple of students who had to overcome their fear of public speaking in order to present their games. I feel that the experience they have received in globaloria will encourage and prepare them for various obstacles and fears they may face thoughout their lives.

Keep the Focus

Losing focus is not limited to the students. Many educators and staff have busy schedules and activities that require a great deal of attention and energy. It seems very easy to be distracted with so many things moving in at once. Fortunately, there has been enough rain and cold weaher to modify the outdoor activities.
The students are making great progress toward finishing and completing their games. They seem very focussed on working and balancing their activities.

Spring Pacing

It seems like the wintertime woes continue to hang around in many ways. It has been difficult to keep focus and pace for an entire, five day week! Students and staff have not only lost a great deal of time, we have broken many good habits and disciplines that carry us through the fast paces and lengthy schedules of Spring. Apparently, we need to get back into shape. Some exercising is required.
The unwanted "wait" must be shed. The cancellations and delays are behind us. Therefore, the exercising of taking care of what needs to be done today, should be evident in our lives. There has been enough postponing and rearranging for several years! Teaching and modeling the importance of meeting deadlines and making adequate progress is needed. Students must witness the flexibility and determination that is needed to complete tasks on time.
Obviously, this requires a great deal of energy and work. We must prioritize our schedules and committ to complete the tasks that are before us. Some things in our plans and schedules will have to be sacrificed. Students will recognize the way things are kept in the appropriate balance. We must exercise the ability to multi-task, while making the necessary adjustments. Hopefully, the sunshine will motivate and encourage students and staff to move a little faster, work a little harder, and exercise the dedication needed to complete tasks. May we spring toward good habits and pacing.

Holiday Thoughts

This has always been one of my favorite times of the year. This season brings with it a celebration of miracles and an opportunity for evaluation. As I set goals and make plans for the new year, I am reminded of the past. I have learned enough to realize that I have a long way to go. Like a beginning psychology student, I now know enough to be dangerous! I am a work in progress. The teacher is learning through the students.
The students are miracles. They have adjusted to the snow days and plans with little effort. In fact, I hope that we can complete our game demonstrations soon. I am proud of the work and energy they have put into their games. I look forward to the feedback and suggestions the students will receive through their presentations.
My partner and I seem to be making progress with our game. Patience seems to be an important virtue for all of my endeavors, and will be an additional goal in 2011. It is extremely important when working in flash! Regardless, I am still very optimistic about the upcoming year and our game. May God bless us! I wish everyone a wonderful and happy New Year!

Back to school

Now that school is back after a week of break, things seem to be going good. The students are working hard and making amazing progress on their games and blogs and etc. I feel so blessed to have such hard working students. The only problem seems to be keeping them on task. They are so talented at maneuvering the computers to so many tasks at the same time, sometimes they seem to get a little lost.
Otis and I are struggling through our game designs. I think we are making progress, even though we are still overwhelmed. I look forward to hearing from him. We lost our initial design, and learned a valuable lesson about the importance of saving often! We have much to learn! Thanksgiving was great, but still looking forward to a possible snow day soon.