Kevin+T

How do you see this game connecting with students?** I truly believe that if I can ever master the development (building) process, the game will allow students to use a fantasy world, such as the one we are designing, to teach and reinfornce real school related concepts in a new, fun way, well beyond the the tools we currently have the ability to work with.
 * Day 5 - Morning

Who supports and who benefits from your participation in this project?** I feel that I benefit because I am learning a new skill and that is never a bad thing. However if the project goes in the direction I would like, my students and other children will truly benefit in the long run. Obviously, teachers will support the project, even more so once they start seeing finished projects.
 * Day 5 - Lunch Time

I would like a tutorial to show me how to do things within the program. Many video games today come with tutorial video like functions. Since I am very visual, reading about how to do things is just not going to be a successful strategy.
 * What other technology do you wish you could use or have support for?**

I certainly feel better today then any of the previous days. However, over the next two months, until a new version of Virtuoso is available, I am not sure how mcuh I will work on. I have a low level for frustration and with the current crash every 2 minute scenario, there is no way I can do this without throwing my computer out the window. However, once some of the bugs are worked out I feel that I will start maing progress. By Christmas time I am sure, I will have something I am proud of. Some of the more complex functions I am not comfortable with but again with time we'll make some progress.
 * Day 5- Power Down**

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What do you do well when connecting with your students?** I had a great answer but the computer jumped backwards and erased it. I try to remember what it was like to sit in their seats. Children at 12 are not concerned with their future as much as they are concerned about now, there friends, what they are wearing and what will occur tomorrow. I try to keep with with amny of the latest things while helping the students see the bigger picture of the world perspective.
 * Day 4 - Morning

I have no real concerns today but in the coming years I know that will change.
 * Do you have any concerns connecting with your students?**

What interests you in video games as former of teaching?** For myself, the biggest things is the hook? So many non-interested students will quickly perk up when confronted with the possibility of playing an action type video game that gives them a chance to learn and a reason to learn. I am not sure the time will be worth the reward at this change but with practice things may change.
 * Day 4 - Lunch Time

I am starting to see why we are here. Though eventually the goal will be to have the teachers make a game, the real goal for the design team is to have us find all the different bugs in the Virtuoso program. It is very frustrating having to save after every thing changed and hopefully in the future that is fixed so we can work for a while and then save. I would also love to see some other bugs worked out but in time that will occur. Overall, the design team has certainly worked hard and are making progress but I will be far more interested in seeing what can be doine 6 months or a year from now.
 * Day 4 - Power Down**

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Describe your teaching?** The best way to describe my teaching would be to provide an analigy. If you have ever seen Ronin Williams as a comic, that would be me teaching my class. I am an entertaining. My main hook is getting to children to think "what will the made mad do next." I am not a very anal or structured teacher, I like to try different ideas and get my students up and active. I feel that having the chance to do things creates a greater chance to learn new ametrial and things that some may consider boring. This is why I use projects a lot in my class.
 * Day 3 - Morning

Describe how your students learn best?** I feel that my students learn best by doing things. Therefore, getting up and having a chance to manipulate things or create are the best ways to connect the learning of new material. Merely reading about something just does not work with the modern students.
 * Day 3 - Lunch Time

For the second straight day I have basically sat around and did nothing. The lack of communication along with the lack of computers actually working has created way many frustrations and as this continues my opinion of this project is becoming more and more negative. How will I be able to figure these different things such as adding anything when I do not have the chance to practice because some people will not share their systems.I am looking at a 9 people that combined have two systems with graphics capabilities. I have no idea what the answer is but perhaps fewer people should have been involved with the project considering the current limitations.
 * Day 3 - Power Down**



Day 2 - Morning Students love working with programs that give them immediate feedback. How do you use technology in your classroom?** I use a variety of technology in my classroom. I have the students create a series of different things, such as PowerPoints, databased, etc. In my class, I use technology everfy day, using the internet to show students pictures, PowerPoints, etc. I use the Smartboard every day and the students use intreactive maps taken from ([|www.yourchildlearns.com]), other geography websites([|www.sheppardsoftware.com]), google earth and other web based programs. I try to find things that are interactive where the students have to manipulate something using the mouse or smartboard.

How does the technology you currently use enhance your students learning and your teaching? How do you know?** Many of the technology pieces I gives the students an interactive platform and hands on experience. For example the interactive geography maps, I see students quickly learn where countries are located within the continents. On the more difficult mode, the borders of the countries are not shown but when a student can drag the Czech Republic over towards central Europe, I know they have a strong sense as to where the country is located. Some of the other programs do similar things, giving the students immediate feedback so they can learn from their mistakes right away.
 * Day 2 - Lunch Time

In my opinion, today was basically a useless day. With almost 2 hours left, I am bored to the max. The limitations of the laptops, connectibility really creates tremendous frustration. I tried to work on another computer but the program continued to crash and after a while I just gave up. I personally do not learn anything just by watching and not having the chance to truly get hands on time soured my mood quickly. I truly hope tomorrow will be better then today.
 * Day 2 - Power down**

On a different note, somehow the team has to simplify the interface allowing for easier placement of objects. Also, why is the z-axis set at -5119? Can't that be reset to 0?

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What are your feelings about video games in general?** For the most part, I feel that video games today are far too violent and graphic however that is the direction children expect today. Overall, I feel that video are wonderful forms of entertainment that can take a user to a different time and place. The biggest draw for young people is the interactivity the games provide along with the instant feeback they provide. You perform a specific number of tasks and a result occurs. I personally do not play video games but I have in the past and they can be very enjoyable.
 * Day 1 - Morning

I have seeb several games on the market that can teach history and historical based material. Other games are great critical thinking tools. However, for the most part, the vast majority of the games available to do not teach anything but violence. I think a well designed educational game that can use the aspects that attract young people too them but in an educational way could be very helpful within for teachers. I am excited to see the direction this opportunity will take myself and the different products that will be created.
 * What are your feelings about videos games as learning tools?**

What brings you here/why are you here?** There are several things that bring me here, the first was when Donita sent out the initial e-mail the entire project just sounded cool. However, at an entirely different level the idea of helping design and create educational games that children can use and learn from is exicting but also daunting. The opportunity to get paid for doing something fun isn't bad either.
 * Day 1 - Lunch Time

The entire process. I am curcious to know exactly what I can create and how detailed it can be.
 * What are you excited about (in terms of this project)?**

Not being a computer language guy, I am interested to see the limitations the overall process brings. When I think of computer game designer, I imagine some serious knowledge of computer languages, lines of code, etc. However, we have been told that we will not need this level of understanding to create something, so I wonder how good the game can be with those restrictions.
 * What are you concerned about?**

The limitation of the network connections created signicant frustration for myself and everyone. I am concerned about how to tie in my area of expertise, social studies, and science. I have some basic ideas but I am not sure how well they will transfer to the game itself. I am certain that if I come up with a strong story **board** (a blueprint to follow) then I will be able to work through any of the difficulties but like so many things, I'll understand more once I begin to actually work with the program. Furthermore, I am curious to see the amount of interaction the different teachers have thrghout the week to help each other.
 * Day 1 - Afternoon -** Shut down/Power off