[math4] FourthGradeMath Digest, Vol 2, Issue 13

[Stephen jacobs]

Hi folks,

Here's what I'm panning to do with the class in general at this point
(though it may well evolve over the next 10 weeks)

First, there's been a significant body of work and development done
around educational games so I plan to have them delve into that.  Eric
and I have established a delicious account for the class to post some
of the research and best practices on educational games and design and
educational approaches between now and next week to help guide us.
Eric will be posting his lecture slides to the rochester group wiki
and we'll share those and the delicious account with the maths group
as well.

Next week, of necessity, we'll be spending a chuck of class handing
out the laptops, which are being registered on the rit network as I
write this.  We'll then spend some lecture time on basics of game
design and I'll post some materials as well.

Over the next coming weeks I'll bring in some speakers with experience
in designing educational games and multimedia.  I"ll be looking to the
larger community to get the students up to speed on pygame and either
scratch or squeak.

so, the first 5 weeks or so will be a research and design phase where
I'll break the class up into teams to work on several different models
of projects, dungeon style and others.  We'll end up with some alpha
design docs from that experience.

The rest  of the class will be focused on building small design
prototypes that will help the communiity at large in picking
directions they'dlike to go for a full fledged development stage.  I
will open all of the class efforts to my user group and the larger
community to contribute to, but since I need to grade them in 10 weeks
they'll need to drive their individual projects with the larger
community contributing.

Sound like a plan???

On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 6:18 AM,
<fourthgrademath-request at lists.sugarlabs.org> wrote:
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> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Math4 at SugarLabs.org (Karlie Robinson)
>   2. hey, I just joined (Christian Horne)
>   3. Reminder - RIT class starts Friday 1400GMT (Karlie Robinson)
>   4. Activity idea (Yioryos Asprobounitis)
>   5. Self Introduction + Re:  Activity idea (Matthew Daniels)
>   6. Re: hey, I just joined (Mel Chua)
>   7. Hey (Jason Rock)
>   8. Re: Hey (Mel Chua)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:17:26 -0400
> From: Karlie Robinson <karlie_robinson at webpath.net>
> Subject: [math4] Math4 at SugarLabs.org
> To: FourthGradeMath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID: <49B95FC6.1040008 at webpath.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> I made an executive decision and we now have a landing page at
> http://sugarlabs.org/go/Math4
>
> Feel free to add to the page and create a subpage or two.
>
> I chose the heading of Math 4 because we can use the play on words to
> eventually expand to other grade levels.  Math for Kindergarten, Math
> for Grade 1, etc.
>
> ~Karlie
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:59:09 -0600
> From: Christian Horne <blendmaster1024 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [math4] hey, I just joined
> To: fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID:
>        <c089be050903121259t6ca46901o3e0b7c129bf4c03 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> hello all an this list,
> I just got my laptop yesterday,
> and now I need somthing to work on.
>
> my name is Christian Horne,
> and I joined because
> 1. I had no way to connect to surrounding wireless networks
> 2. The project looked like fun.
>
> the information I need now is:
> what API will I be using
> where I can learn to use it (the API)
> and where I can get the current sources.
>
> ps: does anyone know how to change the channel in the XO irc?
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:32:15 -0400
> From: Karlie Robinson <karlie_robinson at webpath.net>
> Subject: [math4] Reminder - RIT class starts Friday 1400GMT
> To: FourthGradeMath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID: <49B97F5F.2040403 at webpath.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> The RIT class kicks off tomorrow at 10am EDT so I would expect to see
> students showing up any time after that.
>
> If you will be online tomorrow, I would appreciate it if you could hang
> out at irc.freenode.net on the #sugar and #fedora-olpc channels.
>
> I will be in and out tomorrow, but I will do my best to get on IRC and
> direct traffic.
>
> ~Karlie
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:44:23 -0700 (PDT)
> From: Yioryos Asprobounitis <mavrothal at yahoo.com>
> Subject: [math4] Activity idea
> To: fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID: <200435.30223.qm at web65514.mail.ac4.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>
> This looks like fun here!
> I hope is not only coding because I can not do any. I could learn some though...
>
> The game /activity that strikes me as tailor for teaching math or anything else, by design, is a Pokemon style game. Has a simple game play so should not be demanding on the hardware and by default is based on attack and defend/abilities (questions/answers) of each pokemon that you "train to become stronger and better and evolve"!
> For a math game the characters should have certain level of strengths in functions, comparisons, fractions, geometry, tables, graphs etc. An ordering of the strengths is important for game play. eg you "defend" an addition with subtraction, multiplication with division, equal but with different expression, etc. You could attack with something "bigger", with more factors, combination of functions etc. Riddles and problems could also be included, but I doubt the machine can understand and respond to arbitrarily formed questions so can only be one-way attacks from the computer, or 2-ways in interactive play.
> For lower level, kids could pick from answers  (defense) and questions (attack), go to a mixed mode where they can "capture their opponent" faster if the choose "solo" and type in questions and answers, and finish with the "all user" input mode.
> The "damage" could be assessed first by the accuracy of the response (in low level, kids may be able to test that before they respond) and then by speed. The speed by which the "attack" is moving could be the time.
> Battles can be done with the machine (training), interactively in pairs or groups  (communication/collaboration) or with the server (testing)
> The  goal of the classic game is that "you get to get them all" but here could also be to get the "supper dude" in every level which can be the server or teacher for testing. Or to write an attack sequence that the machine-opponent  "can not defended" (next grate material?)
> As a bonus or initiative, kids may be able do design their own (or modify existing) characters in a drawing activity and import them to the game. Or change the movement (Flip-stick?) of attack/defense/ celebration. They should obviously be able to "trade" their characters with the machine or each-other.
> The game should utilize graphic or graffity talented persons for  original characters and backgrounds, and a simple "quest" story-line could add to the game-play.
> The usual bonuses, cool stuff to get and trade, new layout unlocking etc, could also be included.
>
> Obviously this "game" is more of a platform and with minimal changes could be implemented in many different disciplines.
>
> I have no idea how to implement this but learning (after 2 kids...) the philosophy and the characters of the game I think it can be an ideal learning platform. I do not know if relevant FOSS game engines exist or any company (Nindendo) has release any old code but either could be grate help.
> All it needs now is a TV show to popularize it :-)
>
> So if someone with the required technical abilities finds it interesting and feasible and kick-start it, I promise to try to learn (a bit of) whatever language is going to be used...
>
> mavrothal
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:07:11 -0400
> From: Matthew Daniels <danielsmw at gmail.com>
> Subject: [math4] Self Introduction + Re:  Activity idea
> To: fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID: <40A45DEA-3785-42B3-8AAD-FF7013B9520B at gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Sounds like a fun idea, albeit complicated. Perhaps some sort of turn
> based game like this could help with understanding the ideas of
> equality, balancing equations by adding, subtracting, etc. as the
> computer tries to unbalance them.  Once you have a good game model,
> there's lots you can do.
>
> I should also introduce myself.  My name's Matthew, and David Nalley
> introduced me into this project at a LUG meeting.  I've been sort of
> following the list, but this is my first email.  I'm a proficient
> programmer in general, but I've never done heavy python before, so I'm
> brushing up on it while occasionally brainstorming ideas for this
> stuff.  If anybody has a job they think they can use me for before I
> run off coding on my own, let me know. =)
>
> - Matthew Daniels
>
> On Mar 12, 2009, at 7:44 PM, Yioryos Asprobounitis wrote:
>
>>
>> This looks like fun here!
>> I hope is not only coding because I can not do any. I could learn
>> some though...
>>
>> The game /activity that strikes me as tailor for teaching math or
>> anything else, by design, is a Pokemon style game. Has a simple game
>> play so should not be demanding on the hardware and by default is
>> based on attack and defend/abilities (questions/answers) of each
>> pokemon that you "train to become stronger and better and evolve"!
>> For a math game the characters should have certain level of
>> strengths in functions, comparisons, fractions, geometry, tables,
>> graphs etc. An ordering of the strengths is important for game play.
>> eg you "defend" an addition with subtraction, multiplication with
>> division, equal but with different expression, etc. You could attack
>> with something "bigger", with more factors, combination of functions
>> etc. Riddles and problems could also be included, but I doubt the
>> machine can understand and respond to arbitrarily formed questions
>> so can only be one-way attacks from the computer, or 2-ways in
>> interactive play.
>> For lower level, kids could pick from answers  (defense) and
>> questions (attack), go to a mixed mode where they can "capture their
>> opponent" faster if the choose "solo" and type in questions and
>> answers, and finish with the "all user" input mode.
>> The "damage" could be assessed first by the accuracy of the response
>> (in low level, kids may be able to test that before they respond)
>> and then by speed. The speed by which the "attack" is moving could
>> be the time.
>> Battles can be done with the machine (training), interactively in
>> pairs or groups  (communication/collaboration) or with the server
>> (testing)
>> The  goal of the classic game is that "you get to get them all" but
>> here could also be to get the "supper dude" in every level which can
>> be the server or teacher for testing. Or to write an attack sequence
>> that the machine-opponent  "can not defended" (next grate material?)
>> As a bonus or initiative, kids may be able do design their own (or
>> modify existing) characters in a drawing activity and import them to
>> the game. Or change the movement (Flip-stick?) of attack/defense/
>> celebration. They should obviously be able to "trade" their
>> characters with the machine or each-other.
>> The game should utilize graphic or graffity talented persons for
>> original characters and backgrounds, and a simple "quest" story-line
>> could add to the game-play.
>> The usual bonuses, cool stuff to get and trade, new layout unlocking
>> etc, could also be included.
>>
>> Obviously this "game" is more of a platform and with minimal changes
>> could be implemented in many different disciplines.
>>
>> I have no idea how to implement this but learning (after 2 kids...)
>> the philosophy and the characters of the game I think it can be an
>> ideal learning platform. I do not know if relevant FOSS game engines
>> exist or any company (Nindendo) has release any old code but either
>> could be grate help.
>> All it needs now is a TV show to popularize it :-)
>>
>> So if someone with the required technical abilities finds it
>> interesting and feasible and kick-start it, I promise to try to
>> learn (a bit of) whatever language is going to be used...
>>
>> mavrothal
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> FourthGradeMath mailing list
>> FourthGradeMath at lists.sugarlabs.org
>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/fourthgrademath
>
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:44:13 -0400
> From: Mel Chua <mel at melchua.com>
> Subject: Re: [math4] hey, I just joined
> To: Christian Horne <blendmaster1024 at gmail.com>
> Cc: fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> Message-ID: <49B9F2AD.6030605 at melchua.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Welcome, Christian!
>
>> 1. I had no way to connect to surrounding wireless networks
>
> Yikes. That's unfortunate -
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Wifi_Troubleshooting_Guide might help. For
> more XO-specific technical help, the
> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Support_gang will probably be better able to
> help you - go to their IRC channel at #olpc-help on irc.freenode.net (or
> click this link, http://forum.laptop.org/chat and join the web version)
> or email help at laptop.org - this is a project group to work on programs
> for 4th grade math curriculum so the traffic will likely be more
> project-focused.
>
>> 2. The project looked like fun.
>
> I think that's why we're all here. ;)
>
>> what API will I be using
>> where I can learn to use it (the API)
>> and where I can get the current sources.
>
> It seems like the answers to these questions haven't entirely been
> settled yet - you might want to read the (very short, <1 month old)
> archives of this mailing list for context, but the class starts in
> about... 8 hours. So stay on this list and stay tuned. Some project
> ideas and code starting points (look for "Mongo" as you read through the
> list archives) have been sent out on this list over the last few days.
>
>> ps: does anyone know how to change the channel in the XO irc?
>
> type "/join #nameofchannelyouwanttojoin" in the chat window (as if you
> were typing a message in the chat), no quotes. Again, help at laptop.org is
> a good place to ask. ;)
>
> --Mel
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:59:09 -0500
> From: Jason Rock <rockj at rpi.edu>
> Subject: [math4] Hey
> To: OLPC Math <fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org>
> Message-ID:
>        <958346480903122259o3a8cd69fgdd776985be6a31e7 at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hey everyone I am an RPI CS major who learned of your project from Mel and
> I'm looking forward to spending the last day of spring break reading the
> logs on this mailing list :P  Anyway, your project looks extremely
> interesting and I'm looking forward to helping out in any way I can.
>
> --Jason
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> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:19:40 -0400
> From: Mel Chua <mel at melchua.com>
> Subject: Re: [math4] Hey
> To: Jason Rock <rockj at rpi.edu>
> Cc: OLPC Math <fourthgrademath at lists.sugarlabs.org>
> Message-ID: <49B9FAFC.9080209 at melchua.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> Jason and I both went to the same high school and spent... I lost count,
> but it's some crazy number of hours and slices of pizza this summer at a
> Sugar Activity sprint, generally geeking out about this
> "open-source-and-education" thing.
>
> He's been trying to get some OLPC/Sugar student group action started at
> RIT this school year, so I'm waving enthusiastically at my laptop screen
> right now (really! typing with left hand waving with right...)
>
> Welcome, Jason!
>
> --Mel
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> FourthGradeMath mailing list
> FourthGradeMath at lists.sugarlabs.org
> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/fourthgrademath
>
>
> End of FourthGradeMath Digest, Vol 2, Issue 13
> **********************************************
>