Category: ICT

Posted in Design and Technology, Game, Graphics, ICT

Using video game design in the classroom

Posted on by Mr Sully

At my school, like many others we have a unit of work in Year 7 Technology Mandatory on Game Design. We’ve dabbled with Microsofts free Kodu (maybe Project Spark in the future) but mostly we have been using an older version of YoYo Games Gamemaker, you can grab a legacy version for free from this site.

The kids really engage with Video Game Design as it’s such a strong influence on their generation. One of the areas that create some disengagement for some students can be with the creative side, making good looking assets (graphics). Well a company called Tiny Speck has just released the assets from their now defunct game called Glitch into the public domain, meaning anyone can play around with their professionally crafted designs. For me it means that I can grab the spritesheets and let kids loose, seeing what they can come up with.

Posted in Google, ICT

Google Apps – Admin Training Day

Posted on by Mr Sully

Well back to Term 2 and it’s all go! I’m still gradually restoring my desk to its former glory as it was involved in a quite a monumental collapse during the last week of Term 1.

During the past holidays I did get the opportunity to head to Sydney for a Google Apps for Administrators training event. A very inspiring collection of educators and presenters. Dorothy Burt and her husband from New Zealand were so dedicated to their students and the results they can demonstrate are truly exciting.

At the moment everything is looking good for the roll out of Google Apps in the NSW Public Education system, although I am a little concerned we may have some limitations that hinder us at the grass roots level. Watching some of the presentations from the Non-Government schools makes me envious of their autonomy and ability to make decisions and follow through.

The video above is of the Hapara interface that schools can purchase and it was a brilliant. Hapara is a commercial package that integrates into Google Apps for Education (which is free!) taking many of the processes that currently in most schools are a series of hacks and mashed together software packages, and turns your browser into a true school working environment.

Keep an eye on the #GAFECOMMUNITY hashtag  on Twitter to hear more.