Construction System Development Laboratory

The Problem: The next generation of leaders and builders must learn to use technology to solve some very tough problems.

Our mission is to develop project materials that: 1.‘Engage’ > 40% of a random group of boys and girls. 2.Teach kids how to apply technology to help solve problems. 3.Enable teachers who have little computer programming, art, or mechanical engineering experience to guide a group of 24 students (ages 8 – 13) over 10 – 20 hours to complete a sophisticated solution.

Our mission is to develop project materials that: 4.Map to Strands in the DOE Technology Frameworks  File management  Proficiency in Word, Power Point, and other applications  Web research 5.Map to multi-disciplines.  Language  Social science  Art and Music  Creative thinking  Problem solving  Teamwork The following slides are an example of how we introduce MIT’s Scratch and Build-It-Yourself’s construction system to engage and teach kids

Computer Game Development Laboratory Game Storylines GraphicsSound Effects Game Logic Home Scene 1Scene 2

Why Are Computer Games Important? We have a problem … Parents typically don’t approve of spending time playing games. Your challenge is to convince them that you can learn valuable skills playing computer games.

Why Are Computer Games Important? Harvard Business School Press, ‘Got Game’ 1.Gamers are better at handling risk and uncertainty, and believe taking measured risks is the best way to get ahead. 2.Gamers are more creative and have better problem solving habits. 3.Gamers are more sociable and have a greater need for human relationships.

Why Are Computer Games Important? Harvard Business School Press, ‘Got Game’ 4.Gamers think of themselves as experts and want to tackle problems head-on. 5.Gamers aren’t discouraged by failure and believe each setback is just a chance to try again. 6.Gamers are more flexible about change.

Why Are Computer Games Important? Harvard Business School Press, ‘Got Game’ 7.Gamers are better at seeing problems from a deeper perspective. 8.Gamers are great at learning in informal ways. 9.Gamers are more globally oriented and out-ward looking. 10.Gamers are more confident and have a more positive out look on life.

Why Can Computer Games Be Bad? 1.You can be influenced by too much violence. 2.Single player games can be anti-social. 3.Addiction to anything can be dangerous. 4.There can be online predators.

Simulation / Role Playing Games Imagine you want to fly an airplane. Imagine you want to understand how an ant colony works. Imagine you want to be a billionaire lemonade stand owner. Let the games begin!

Rocket Works The objective is to win fame, fortune, power and love running a smoking hot Rocket Works company. You earn or lose money based on the choices you make running your company. Founder, CEO, & Chief Dude Investors pledge $1M to Rocket Works. (your starting capital) Bank Galaxy

Rocket Works Story Line Use the ARROW KEYS to move your character around the game maps. Junk Yard c c c Launch Pad Bank Rocket Works

Rocket Works Story Line To start, you choose a mission, ticket price, promotion budget, astronaut crew, food, entertainment and fuel.. Build-It-Yourself Rocket Works

Rocket Works Story Line On launch day you find out how many people sign up for your expedition and therefore what your ticket revenue, expenses and profit / loss are. (High ticket price means more profit/fewer customers. High promo budget means more expense but more customers. The astronaut crew determines how successful you’ll be at random mission challenges.) c c c Build-It-Yourself Launch Pad

Rocket Works Story Line When you launch the rocket, many things can happen to increase or decrease your profit. On your way to your destination and back, you must navigate through various game environments where:  You can navigate badly and crash.  You can take much longer than planned burning too much fuel and supplies.  You can run into aliens and get blasted.  Your customers can have a bad experience and sue you.  You can bring back exotic treasures, minerals, and spices of great value  You can stop at a casino and win or lose money.  You can claim new territory and expand your empire.  You can be handsomely compensated for solving an important problem.  You can ???

Rocket Works Story Line When you return to earth, all your earnings and loses are calculated. $56,735,000 Financial History Mission Report Balance Statement Bank Galaxy You continue to run missions until you become the richest, smartest, most famous, most powerful dude in the universe Or You run out of money.

Rocket Works Story Line Write a story line in your Power Point lab book about what you want to happen on your planet. Who? What? Where? Why? When?

Rocket Works Graphics In your Power Point lab book: Draw a rocket ship. Draw a space scene. Draw a background that you see when you land on the planet. Draw an alien that guides you through Draw animated frames for your character. Other options: Astronaut or Crew member Treasures to bring home Bill board to advertise a local business

Rocket Works Graphics Your partners in the rocket company … Callum, 11 & Ben, 11 Chenery School Belmont, MA Saul, 10 Concord Academy Summer Camp Concord, MA Chloe, 9 BB&N Cambridge, MA Erica, 9 BB&N Cambridge, MA We invite you to help us create more storylines and graphics. Join the Build-It-Yourself crew.

Rocket Works Graphics In your travels, you’ll have to deal with these aliens! Jonathan, 10 Open Window School Bellevue, WA Chloe, 9 Park School Cambridge, MA Kelly, 10 Concord Academy Summer Camp Concord, MA We invite you to help us create more storylines and graphics. Join the Build-It-Yourself crew.

Rocket Works Graphics And you may encounter these space ships. Callum, 11 & Ben, 11 Chenery School Belmont, MA Matthew, Ryan & Ellis Concord Academy Summer Camp Concord, MA Mark, Noah, Andrew Concord Academy Summer Camp Concord, MA Edward & Kelly Concord Academy Summer Camp Concord, MA We invite you to help us create more storylines and graphics. Join the Build-It-Yourself crew.

Rocket Works Sound Effects 1.You must create your own far out sound effects. 2.Set up a microphone and speaker 3.Get a bunch of contraptions that make sounds. 4.Use Audio Recorder to record short, (less than 5 second) sound clips from the contraptions or from you and your team mates mouthing off. 5.Edit the sound effects by deleting bad sections, contorting the sounds or adding sections. 6.Play the sounds clip from Audio Recorder and record the sound effects in Scratch sprites.

Rocket Works Logic and Programming 1.Make your rocket move across the screen when you press the arrow keys. 2.Import your space background to be a ‘stage.’ 3.Switch backgrounds when your rocket touches a planet. 4.Land you rocket 5.Make your alien tell your storyline and explain the mini game on this planet. 6.Program a game by modifying one of the mini-game templates. 7.Add sound effects

Moving from the virtual world to the real world. The boundary between the virtual and real worlds is blurring. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business people must move between these worlds seamlessly.

Moving from the virtual world to the real world. 1.Apply technology to solve a real world problem. 2.Incorporate many disciplines in executing a solution. 3.Use recycled parts creatively. 4.Break down your solution into simple modules or functional building blocks. 5.Collaborate with Build-It-Yourself specialists and fellow builders from around the world.

Moving from the virtual world to the real world. Scratch Programming Language Scratch Sensor Board BIY Motor Controller Coin sensor Position sensor Rotation sensor Sound sesnor Mechanical Motion Modules InputsProgram ControlOutputs

Moving from the virtual world to the real world. Project Examples 1.For 25 cents your invention will: Dance Play music Tell fortune Dispense candy 2.Reflex game 3.Cuckoo clock 4.Door greeter 5.Communicator