EDUC 685

For my final project in 685 I developed a webquest for my students.  You can find this webquest at

http://www.geocities.com/jmfral/webquest.htm

My webquest is titled Spanish Speaking Countries.  It took me a long time to finish my project.  This is the first webquest I have ever done so I hope it is correct.  I had written all of my information out on paper and had it set up how I wanted.  My problem at first was how I was going to actually publish my quest online.  Then it hit me.  I have a webpage that I had already created for another class back in the spring.  So what I did was add my quest to my webpage.  It took me a little while to get back into the programming aspect of the webpage.  But once I worked with it some it came easier.  If you are not familiar with webpages created on geocities, all programming is done with HTML.  It is definitely something that takes time unless you have worked with it alot.  I had to do some updating on my webpage also during the process, since I no longer work in the same county I did when I created the page.  I am actually real proud of myself.  I think I have really accomplished something here.  This semester started out real rough, but as time passed, it got much better.  It’s hard to believe it’s over.

I want to with everyone a safe holiday season.  Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

FELIZ NAVIDAD

For my final project, I decided to create a series of games that I thought would be more beneficial to my classes.  I wanted to do something they could use.  This is what I had in mind when I decided to go against using game maker.  I tried for days and days to create a game with game maker and I never could figure out how to get it to work (I guess another reason I went to something else).  So, what I did instead:  I used a matching game maker and created some matching games for vocabulary that we have used or are using in the classroom.  My topics for these were food, colors, questions and answers, and telling time.  The students use these these games to match either the spanish vocabulary with the english meanings, or they have to choose the correct answer to a question in spanish.  I also created a “Who wants to be a millionaire” game using power point.  This game uses questions that are a review of things we have already gone over in class.  I haven’t had a chance to use it yet, but I can’t wait to see who will become a “millionaire” in my classroom.  I also created a jeopardy game using powerpoint.  This also has topics that we have already covered in class.  These games will serve as a great review for my students.  And, I think they will enjoy playing them.  I have some very competitive students. 

I have really enjoyed this class.  It has been fun, playing games and getting grades.  This is the best kind of class anyone could have.  Two things I have realized about myself this semester: I stink at Last Outpost, and I can’t (for the life of me) figure out how to create a game using game maker.  I even tried going through a book I have for creating games with it and couldn’t even do that.  I followed everything step by step, and my game would not run properly.  Overall, this class has been a wonderful experience.  Happy Holidays and be safe.

I have been working on my capstone project.  I am creating a web quest for Mexican history.  This project is coming by really slow.  I have never created a webquest before and am having some trouble with it.  There are some questions I have.  Such as how do I publish my webquest once I have it completed?  And do I use a template or should I come up with my own design?  I have found some templates online, but none that would let me type in my own information.  I have a lot of things written out, but so far thats as far as I have got.

I don’t know what the problem is or if anyone else is having trouble with Morehead’s website, but this is really irritating.  After trying over break, over the weekend, and today I have not been able to do the things I need to do for completion of some assignments.  Yesterday I was finally able to log in on Blackboard, write a post and then was kicked off.  I tried logging back in and it said that black board was down.  Today I was able to log in to blackboard but could not pull up any documents.  Now, tonight, the entire MSU site is messed up.  I can’t even view the homepage.  It keeps telling me that the session has timed out.  I have tried numerous times this evening and to no avail. Times like these are when technology sucks.

I have worked with game maker for a long time now and still haven’t had any luck actually making my final game for 688.  I can play the games, but it seems that I just can’t write a game.  Time is running out for this project and the closer the deadline gets, the more frantic I get.  I guess the only thing I can do is keep trying and maybe I can get it to do what I want it to.

We bought Final Fantasy III for the DS.  I have played some of the game while we are going places in the car (when the kids aren’t playing on them).  Each of my sons has a DS but I haven’t bought one for myself yet.  I’m waiting for the new ones to come out (whenever that’s going to be).  Right now we have three of them and I have to get one when it’s not in use by my sons.  The DS is a great system for on the go…when you’re not driving of course.  Final Fantasy III is a typical FF game.  But, I have liked all of them in the series that I have played so far.  I haven’t played all of the FF games, but quite a few.  And, I have to say that these are great games.

I have continued to play civ revolution from time to time in order to play and win as all civilizations on the game.  On the xbox, there is an achievement for this.  Although, I’m not actually worried about getting all the achievements (not possible for me) I am trying to get the ones I know I can get.  So far I have won as 5 of the civilizations.  With each I have gained all 4 types of victories.  This game is real fun.

I have been thinking alot about this project that’s due for 685.  I have jotted down ideas, marked out, threw away, jotted down more ideas…..but I really don’t know what to do or even if my thought process was on the right tracks.  One of the things I was thinking about was a classroom blog.  Another was a webpage with a section for parents and students to leave questions and comments (if this is possible).  I don’t know if this is what we are supposed to do with the capstone project or not.

I think a good research topic is:  Do students taking online classes retain more information thatn students taking the same classes traditionally?  It would definitely take time to gather enough data for something like this.  One way to gather evidence one way or the other would be to have all students take an exit exam at the end of the semester (in a controlled env’t) and see how well they perform.  Then compare the data.  This would need to be done for at least 4 semesters to have enough data to compare but should probably be done for longer for more credible research.

I don’t think the objectives for online and classrooms would differ.  You still want your students to learn the same information either way.  So, wouldn’t the objectives stay the same?  That’s my thinking anyway.