The Hour of Code didn't help me learn much because I have been taught this before. In eighth grade we used a coding website called Scratch which taught me the basics of coding through a block language. The Hour of Code was very similar. I did like the Hour of Code and think that it's a good format to teach students. It was a good review. I feel like I need more practice with the basics before I'm ready to move on to a more intensive programming language. To improve my coding skills, I will need to learn about more about the logic of games and the rules of play. I'll need to determine cause and effect during games.
Last week I participated in a educational event called the Hour of Code. It is designed to teach students who don't necessarily know how to code the logic of coding through tutorials with different themes. The themes included are from different video games that each have a different style. For example, Minecraft and Disney were used to teach students how to code. I favored the Minecraft tutorial so that is the one I used. There was a short video with Jeb, a lead programmer working at Microsoft on Minecraft. He explained how he learned to code and how it is a very useful skill for working on video games. He talked about how coding is used and explained the first steps of moving an object up, down, left, and right. Then we were thrown into the actual tutorial which started by choosing a base character, either Steve or Alex. Once you chose the character, things get started. Each tutorial requires you to complete simple tasks in Minecraft. For instance, in the first tutorial I commanded Steve to walk around a room and collect materials. After a few tutorials, a new video of Jeb showed up which explained a new mechanic of coding. This was later used to complete more puzzles.
The Hour of Code didn't help me learn much because I have been taught this before. In eighth grade we used a coding website called Scratch which taught me the basics of coding through a block language. The Hour of Code was very similar. I did like the Hour of Code and think that it's a good format to teach students. It was a good review. I feel like I need more practice with the basics before I'm ready to move on to a more intensive programming language. To improve my coding skills, I will need to learn about more about the logic of games and the rules of play. I'll need to determine cause and effect during games.
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On Friday, we had a guest speaker, Dr. Elena Veety, from the ASSIST Center at NC State. She discussed a number of different ways the university is working to develop wearable devices to improve our lives. She also discussed some of the problems they have to overcome to be successful in their quest to make useful devices. For extra credit, summarize what you learned about sensors, wearables devices and use of data from her talk. Also, touch upon how the science involved in a career like this also requires a connection with the arts. Finally, discuss at least one problem that you would like to see solved through the use of wearables.
Wearables are a type of technology that collect data through sensors such as a fitbit or exercise tracker. Dr. Veety talked about wearables that are self-powered. The data is collected through the skin and the sensor is powered by energy that is produced from the person or animal wearing the device. A lot of different types of information can be collected through wearables such as heartbeat rates, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Wearables can also be put on different kinds of animals, both big and small. People at NC State are working on sensors that can be put on cockroaches that could be used to help find people who are trapped under a collapsed building. Sensors have been developed for elephants in Africa so they can be redirected from walking into farms. This solves two problems because after an elephant destroys a farm, it is usually killed by the farmers. Data from sensors can be used to track movement, change behaviors, and improve health. The technology for wearables have improved a lot. When they started out, they were big, clunky boxes of wires. Now they are much smaller and easier to put on. As a scientist studying sensors and wearable technology, you need to know to create a 3-D model that can fit all the technology needed but also be comfortable and practical. People will probably not want to wear the device if they don't look cool. I would like for a personal GPS wearable device to be created. People who are hiking, sailing, or exploring could use it rather than have to carry additional equipment. This project was a very unique project that allowed students to collect data and report the data using a TI SensorTag. It was an interesting learning experience and concept. It allowed students to learn more about the school and areas around the school while collecting and recording data. For me, gathering data and writing the research paper helped me understand how to plan and execute an experiment and how to properly document and analyze data. Nothing was necessarily confusing for this project. Most things were straight forward and easy to understand. Each step seemed necessary to complete the project. I would recommend adjusting the amount of time to collect data. One class period did not seem like enough time. The only area that was a little confusing was variables. I still have a hard time explaining variables.
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Miles RomanHi, I am a student at Durham School of the Arts, and this blog will be documenting my experiences with my Game Design class. Categories
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