memele's Blog

[PROJECT: final] yay!!!

memele — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:05:25 +0000

WARNING: the video turned out to be a little choppy…but I ran out of time to fix that. Enjoy!!! It was a pleasure to be in this class with all of you!

final project

* if the video does not upload, just manually type this in to download and view: https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/mimisyun/engfinal.mp4

btw, Anne, I wasn’t able to incorporate Minard’s graph because of time constraints..boo!

week 14: reflections on what i learned

memele — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:51:21 +0000

Again, I’m blown away by how much I’ve learned from this project! What I once thought was an absolute waste of time I now know is an incredible resource used for various educational purposes. With the advancement of digital technologies, video games now have the capability to shift from old traditions and methods of sharing narratives to new ways by using new media. History classes can address and manipulate concepts that seem irrelevant (i.e. World War 1) more in-depth and interactively by integrating video games into their curriculum. Our society can utilize video games to broaden and sharpen our memories of past eras and stories and narratives. Video games allow us to develop problem-solving skills, they help us to be more mindful of how our actions impact others, and they are *fun* so they can be used to supplement curriculum material to draw “fringe” students in. I have a new-found respect and perspective on video games!

I wholeheartedly feel that Danielle and I earned an A on this project. We put many hours of thought and effort into first coming up with a concept that is meaningful to us (Danielle has asthma so she is naturally aware of air quality). Then we spent numerous hours executing our thoughts by working out the important themes and main story and lesson of the game so that it teaches the audience about a very important issue in society right now. We worked through multiple drafts to come up with the most comprehensive design document. We also put a lot of thought into strategically sketching out each element of the game. In addition to all of this – we planned all of this out in the midst of traveling out of town and coping with a broken ankle! But, most of all, I think we both learned very important lessons about video games that we can directly utilize as teachers – and that’s what I’m most excited about.

[PROJECT: video game] final draft

memele — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:05:11 +0000

our video game design document

[PROJECT: final] progress

memele — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:30:04 +0000

I’ve been thinking a lot about this final project. I kept asking myself, “How am I going to encompass everything I’ve learned this semester into one final project in a tangible way…” Thinking about it overwhelmed me. So I didn’t think about it. Until this week. I was sitting in one of my classes when I found my source of inspiration: Charles Minard’s visual display of Napoleon’s march to/from Moscos. I think the piece is truly a work of art. And, I haven’t figured everything out yet, but I do know the general concept of what I want to address. I’d like to tell a narrative of our class (and I’m still contemplating if this will even work!) on multiple webapges incorporating all of the concepts we’ve tackled including: representation/misrepresentation, copyright, memory (cultural), and narratives. I’m going to create a sort-of timeline of the semester and use that to graphically tell my story. I don’t think any of this makes sense to anyone who’s reading this…I’m processing my thoughts on this project for the first time right now. What I’ll do this weekend is send out a short questionnaire for the class so I can gather some information.

I still need to (obviously) execute all of my thoughts onto some sort of medium. I’ll try to do that after this crazy weekend.

Anne, I will email you questions that I have for you!

[PROJECT: video game] final reflections

memele — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:11:26 +0000

I honestly thought that I would (by far) enjoy this project *the least*, but, again, I was completely wrong and found myself totally intrinsically motivated and consumed by another one of Anne’s projects. I’m very happy with the way we collaberatively worked to create the game concept…we built off of each other’s thoughts and ended up with a much more creative product than had we done it ourselves. I really appreciate how much *I* learned from this project – I learned so much more about the quality of our air and the things that destroy it and how our decisions impact others in big ways. I’m also very happy with our two sketches of the game – I think it’s a relatively accurate display of what we intended when we thought of our game.

I focused heavily on what the game would look like – graphical elements…I envisioned Mario Brothers and Japanese anime as sources of inspiration. Why? Because digital technologies are ridiculously high in resolution and no one wants to play anything pixelated or out-dated. Japanese anime epitomizes modernity and Mario Brothers represents FUN. I envisioned adjectives like: modern, cute, realistic, fun, relatable. I used these strategies specifically because our audience is primarily students aged 6 through 13. When drawing our sketches, I was very mindful of that and knew that we needed to create scenes that could be taken from their own lives. So that they could directly apply the lessons learned from the game into their lives. Yet, at the same time, I wanted the audience to also enjoy playing the game. When Danielle first proposed the concept of environmental awareness, I was really turned off because it sounded so boring and trendy – so typical. And, I’m sure students could also feel that way. But, at the same time, I knew it was an important issue to address, so making it fun and whimsical were key elements to draw young students into the game.

This project actually turned out to be really fun and interesting – and it forced me to learn in new ways. As a control freak, it made me very mindful about cooperative learning and allowed me to work collaberatively with Danielle. Digital technologies was the MOST important element in this project – without msn messenger and email, this project would’ve been very difficult. Working with a partner through digital technologies in the midst of very busy schedules challenged me to make virtual appointments that I had to keep – even if I’m in another state right now! I think that’s the coolest part of this project – that we’re working on it together even though we’re hundreds of miles apart.

week 14!!!!!!!!!!! week 14!!!!!!!!!!

memele — Mon, 03 May 2010 06:57:35 +0000

I can’t believe the semester is almost over!!!!!! And, as I take just five minutes to reflect on things, it’s amazing how much has happened for me in the last year. I am so proud of myself for deciding to go back to school and actually sticking with it. I had flirted with the idea for so long and didn’t think I could do it, but I’ve proven so many things to myself this past semester. In total seriousness, nothing is impossible after having been through this semester. Juggling a full-time job, a toddler and a preschooler, 18 college credits, housework (two words: anal perfectionist), and moving – I feel absolutely invincible right now. I know this is a fleeting moment as I still have SO much more to finish in the next two weeks, but, hey, it’s a moment – and that’s all that matters. Of all the great lessons I’ve learned this year, one that has changed me and that I treasure is this: my husband is wonderful. I’ve learned that together, we can fight anything.

But, I digress.

Week 14! It happened again. I got sucked into another one of Anne’s projects. Therefore, this week should be easier as I’ve finished up most of the video game project.

Monday: continue making final tweaks to the project.

Tuesday: blog reflection

Wednesday: comment on others’ projects

Thursday: blog on my final project

Friday: reflect on what I’ve learned this week

My brother is graduating from medical school on friday morning, so we’re driving to Minnesota on Thursday and I won’t be back until Sunday night…I will do everything in my power to make sure I’m connected this weekend.

[PROJECT: video game design document] revision plans

memele — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:11:53 +0000

Although I haven’t gotten any feedback (I posted my document very late tonight, so understandably so…), Danielle and I have discussed some of the major tweaks and revisions we’ll need to make:

- I need to work on the design sketches from two scenes
- We need to expand and elaborate the narrative more in-depth and clearly addressing what the player will experience
- explain in more detail how this is different from print
- I need to work on the table of contents
- reorganize some of the sections and subsections

[PROJECT: video game design document] rough draft reflections

memele — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:02:23 +0000

Digital communication technologies are changing the way we live! They are changing the way we communicate with each other, they are changing how and what we remember as a culture, how we learn and teach, how we exchange information and hear and experience stories. I’ve learned that digital gaming is not what I thought it was. Digital video games have evolved remarkably since the 1980s and what I remember them to be is not what they are today. Technologies like digital games can be effectively incorporated and utilized within the classroom to teach in new and engaging ways. Traditional out-of-the-book methods limit the way we teach and the way we learn. Our game, “Clear the Air”, is an educational environmental awareness game which teaches students how to protect the environment and each other. Perhaps one of the main causes for so much of our pollution is our lack of cultural memory of environmental awareness. I remember as a young student, other than Earth Day, we rarely were taught effectively how we can save the earth. The evolution of video games can change that. Our cultural memory can be broadened as we simulate real-life situations and as we learn how our actions can impact our environment.

Because our game is an educational game, aimed to help teachers and students engage in curriculum concepts on a much deeper and personal level than traditional methods, I believe that our game would be enjoyed by everyone who plays it! However, because our game is geared toward elementary-aged students, I could not argue that this game would be fun for everyone. Who would rather learn about the environment by reading a book over playing a real-life simulated game?!

I think the most challenging element about this project is that it’s collaborative. Between our busy schedules, arranging times to chat and plan proved to be quite difficult. The need for communication was absolutely vital for the success of the project. And, while it was the most challenging aspect, I think it’s the most rewarding, too. Building off of each other’s ideas is the greatest resource for projects like this. When I was younger, I had such difficulty being honest with my thoughts in groups like these. I’ve learned to overcome that anxiety and have learned not to doubt myself. On a personal level, the only other time I’ve been this stressed for weeks at a time was when I was planning my wedding for 400 guests. I’m really hanging on by a very thin string… Danielle had to wait for me to finish my part, and I was really sorry about that. I will try my BEST to get a head start on finishing the final draft for next week. We’ve agreed to continue communicating through msn messenger (this worked out really great for us!).

[PROJECT: video game design document] a very rough draft

memele — Sat, 01 May 2010 03:38:13 +0000

our design document

week 13: i have to plan better this week!!!

memele — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 13:33:09 +0000

monday: i will play all of the online games that i wasn’t able to play last week then discuss the games and start thinking of game design plans with danielle

tuesday: read assignment for the final project thoroughly then discuss any question/concerns I have. continue working on first draft of game with danielle

wednesday: continue working on first draft of game

thursday: finish up the first draft and blog my reflections

friday: comment on others’ drafts and complete the last part of my class evaluation.