Tyler Shirzanian

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How will I introduce Scalable Game Design in my school?
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Project Journal
Summer Institute, June 1-11, 2010

Reflection 1, June 1, 2010

This day came easily for me. I grasped the concepts of generate and erase pretty well. The only thing that tripped me up initially was the concept of transport. Ironically, I had a harder time learning how to use AgentSheets rather than logically creating a game. It was a pretty fun day though. I liked being introduced to a program that helps ease the programming side and strictly focuses on the design and logic of the game.

Reflection 2, June 2, 2010

This day sucked. Space invaders was probably the worst experience I have had in computers in a long time. The idea of methods made no sense at first and there was confusion surrounding the counter used in moving the pieces. At the end of the day I ended up just following the tutorial to get it over with - a general consensus among my peers. I think the idea of methods should have been explained a little better.

Reflection 3, June 3, 2010

The sims was awesome. This game really hit home why methods are there and what they do. Now that I think about it the third day went so well because I also got used to Agent Sheets. The idea of diffusion was really interesting as well. I always wondered how enemy AI would function with a moving object - and now I finally found out. I can see how diffusion can be a huge concept in a lot of science simulations such as tsunami predictions and liquid movements. Hands down the most interesting game so far.

Reflection 4, June 4, 2010

Own game day. This was kinda rough. I teamed up with Ashoke to make an old school artillery game. After using the diffusion equation I really wanted to implement more math in my games. After about an hour and thirty minutes of programming I finally got what I wanted on a basic level - slope! I also learned about recursions in this game. Running a function within a function while keeping a counter progressing was interesting because I always wanted to know if Agent Sheets had a loop design implemented. I ended up making only 1 cannon after running out of time but I feel very proud of figuring out key concepts that could be used in making better games later.

Reflection 5, June 7, 2010

Honestly.... this day was boring. I didn't really get anything out of it computationally nor 'teaching-ly'. I didn't see the point and it would have been better for everyone if we had a group of middle schoolers to teach and get some hands on experience.

"Reflection 6, June 8, 2010"

This day was okay. I felt like it was hardcore review over easy concepts; mainly designed for the teachers here not so much the students. I did get a great chance to learn about mapping as well as specifics on stacks but that is about it. Review is not bad, but I would like to learn what else could be done with Agent Sheets. Diffusion is only cool for so long.

"Reflection 7, June 9, 2010"

I loved helping out with Fred's class. This was probably the best/most fun experience I have had so far. My career path thus far was to be an educator so this day really combined my passions: computers and teaching. I really think that the kids had an air of creativity that I have not had in awhile. The creativity combined with my technical knowledge of AgentSheets thus far proved to be a great combination. I ended up helping a few kids out with some problems - most of them being really small. To me it appeared as though Fred has taught the kids very well so far. They understood AgentSheets but furthermore they understood the technical logic of programming. I figured they would still just be grasping the concepts of generate and erase but they were already making a space invaders game that trumped my own. Props.

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Computational Thinking Patterns
by: Amina, Casey, Corbin, and Tyler

1) Barcelona Soccer Match

Soccer video. Collision can be seen when the soccer ball hits the goalies hands. Another example could be a slide tackle where as player collides with the soccer ball to steal it. Diffusion is present with the ball at all times. Hill climb is present at 2 degrees. The primary is around the ball where the defense attempts to hill climb towards it in order to steal it. The secondary is present if the hill climb in coordination with collision is a lesser value than ~ 30? unless it is an absolute must (< 2 defenders around?) then the defender hill climbs towards the opponent player instead of the ball. Scripting can be seen on the offense as well. When the midfield gets the ball, a random forward is chosen to start a run. In doing the run, the midfield passes/cross forward with a <5% of a successful pass if its MLS and much higher if its an English soccer organization (lulz).

2) Animator V. Animation

This is an animation showing most of the computational thinking patterns, the ones i noticed are as folows: generation, the animation, the weight, the laser gun, and so-on; absorbtion, the eraser; diffusion, the explosions from the laser gun as well.

3) 28 Weeks Later (Benny Hill)

this movie clip shows  the idea behind seeking. For example at first the infected people in the video are chasing the none infected people. When the humans climb into the boat the infected now have encountered a hazard much like the ghosts in pacman.

Lesson Plans
This is an example from Sandy Rea's page that linked lesson plans in documents.

Here's a website with my Frogger Tutorial, which also references and links to the Frogger Tutorial on the Scalable Game Design Wiki: http://schools.bvsd.org/aspencreek2/computer/Frogger/index.html


 * [[Media:frogger_intro.ppt| SlideShow Intro into AgentSheets & Frogger ]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Outline_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plan Outline for Frogger (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Day_1_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plans for Frogger Day 1 (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Day_2_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plans for Frogger Day 2 (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Day_3_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plans for Frogger Day 3 (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Day_4_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plans for Frogger Day 4 (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:Frogger_Lesson_Plan_Day_5_sandy_rea.doc | Lesson Plans for Frogger Day 5 (in progress)]]
 * [[Media:UploadingGameToArcade.doc | Step-by-step guide for preparing and uploading game to Arcade]]

Contact Information

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