9/29- Started on the plan

10/3- Get card stock

10/3- Create the game board cards

10/3- Get the moving tokens

10/3- Make the spinner

10/3- Create account on Photoshop for the creation of the actual game board

10/4- Get all of this things printed

10/4- Cut them out & have them ready to go

10/5- Assembling the game board

10/6- Create the rule book

10/6- Make the instructions

10/6- Start on the survey

10/7- Finish the survey

10/8- Pass out surveys & collect results

10/9-Create the graphs analyzing success rate

   This will take me about 480 min in total, but I am starting to believe that this will probably take me more...

Design Brief

10. Write a short statement of what you are going to make, why you are going to make it, and for whom you are making it.

Formulate a Design Specification

  For my project I am working on creating a board game. I want to theme it in a way where I can use glow in the dark material and make it appealing to the 6th graders. I want the kids to be able to understand it and have fun while learning.

11. What are the requirements for this assignment? 

•  Simple to understand
• Simple vocabulary
• Not too distracting
• Actually works (teaches the design cycle)
• Able to be taken to other places,
• Have 4 sections
• Be 2 1/2in. by 2 1/2in.
• Be complete and decorated in a way that calls for attention
• Be a minimum of 5 min. per play.

12. What are the limitations you have with this assignment?

   It is something that only a couple of kids can be using at a time.

so maybe the next step, if it works, would be to create more of these game boards so everyone is able to learn the design cycle. Also I would assume that those kids that like to break things will be tempted to damage it, so the limitation would be that the game board is not tear proof, but I can work on that and hopefully have something that can help solve that problem.

13. How will you "test" your project?

   The way I am planning on having my survey tested is through a simple survey. It would have to be about 5-9 questions b/c I don't want it to be more than 10 ,but I do not want it to be less than 5 questions because then I don't think that the test will be getting the essence of what the design cycle is. I think another way that I would know whether or not my game was successful is if the students can actually win it. The whole purpose of the game is to win it and if they are not able to then that means that the did not learn it very well and my mission was not accomplish. 

Investigation Reflection

   So base on the work that I have been able to accomplish throughout these last couple of says I would think that I earned a good grade. I have been able to express and relate the problem to real life situations where the design cycle and the process of it in itself is needed in order to solve the problem. I mentioned on my post why it was important that the 6th graders understood and know the design cycle. I think that the should be able to relate any other process of problem solving. I have been keeping up with all the things that need to be done in class. I think that it would have been harder to keep up with all of the work if we didn't have a class blog. It was deffinitely a way to keep track of all of the things that needed to be done. I have to admit that there were times when I had to go home and finish my posting or questions. So therefore I have to rate myslef a 5-6. I think that a 5 would be kind of low but at the same time a 6 is alittle too high and I believe that there is always room for improvement because nothing is ever perfect. So I think that I deserve something more like a 5.5 .

3 Designs

  So I have been thinking about the direction in which I want to take my project and  I have come up with 3 "IDEAS" that I think would work.


Idea #1.
  So for my 1st idea I have come up with the theme of animals. Kind of like safari but without it being ugly. I would use very vibrant colors, a lot of animals such as parrots, butterflies, elephants, giraffes, snakes. I want it to be unisex that way both the boy and girls can be interested. The way that the game board will be set up will be the same for all three of my designs because I can't think of another way to keep it from turning into a whole different project. I want the designs to not be completely different so that way it is easier to judge by one variable rather than a whole concept. Just because I don'
t have time to put all of the components together to make one cohesive board game.


Idea #2.
   As for my 2nd idea I was thinking about having it be in a futuristic theme. This will let my imaginations GO WILD! With the planets, astronauts, aliens, stars and all that good stuff. I really like science and so I think that that would be perfect. And because I really like this idea, I think that it could work even though not a lot of girls might like it, it will definitely catch their attention. I can even try to see if I can make it glow in the dark! Specially since they sell those kinds of paints and they would have no excuse to play since they work need light either.


Idea #3
 And lastly for my last Idea I was thinking of having each stage being represented by what it actually is so for the Investigate it would be like a library. For the design it would be like a room full of architectures working on a project.  For the Planning stage I would use something like a calendar or an agenda. For the create part of the design cycle I think I will go for like a factory where they are actually making things. And for the evaluate I would have kids having to take a test. I think that having this option will make it easier for the kids to relate to the Design Cycle and be able to see how each part is actually being represented in the real life.

   So I think that even though I said that I don't want to mis ideas, I think I want to incorporate my last idea with idea #2 so I can work with glow in the dark paint and also help the children learn the design cycle. I am so excited and I think that if I stick to this designs there is no possible way that these kids will not learn the design cycle. I think that they will be stocked to have the glow in the dark component and the aliens with the planets and stuff or at least I hope they will.

Comparison of Board Game to Arcade Game

Board Game

Measurement	Score (1-5)
Themes	5
Kinesthetic	5
layout	4
Simplicity	4
Total	18

   When rating the THEME I would say that with doing a 3-D board game, the possibilities are endless. I can literally let my imagination go wild and truly do something that the kids will enjoy learning from. I can possibly make a design where my intended players would be girls, so it would be a more girly theme in pinks an or pastels that way it would be more appealing to them and their attention has shifted from being bored and uninterested to suddenly becoming aware that the board game can actually be fun and without realizing it they will be learning THE DESIGN CYCLE. And the same goes for boys. If the theme is more like construction or army the color scheme will definitely make a difference. Which is why I scored it a 5.
   My approach on this project will either make or break my success. I have decided that considering two completely different approaches will help me get a better understanding of what can work. Whether the kids are able to interact with the product is very important to me. I am the kind of person that learns by doing and seeing so therefor I am gonna create that something that I could use to easily learn something I am having trouble with.The fact that if people can touch it they are able to learn it better, makes me lean more towards wanting to do something that this kids can use to play with therefore I scored it a 5. I want the kids to interact and feel like they playing when actually the are learning.

   The LAYOUT is something I definitely have to look into, and be very careful as to how I go about it. I want it to be simple yet very attractive and grab every one's attention. It need to be in a way that doesn't distract from the purpose of the actual game. I'm thinking something along the lines of Monopoly. The layout is very clear and somewhat simple. And besides the kids would be able to see the similarities and quickly get on board as to how to play it. The score I gave it was a 4 exactly because of that reason I believe that the layout could turn out to be very easy to understand.
   If anything it would get a little complicated in the instructions, but overall the concept is very simple. which ties in with the theme and the layout. In the end the SIMPLICITY of the project comes down to all of the elements previously mentioned on my post. I want it to be something anyone can use at any time. That's why I went with the over all score of simplicity being a 4. It is not a five because I don't believe in something ever reaching the full potential completely, their will always be room for improvement and a little more  to work on. But I believe that if I use the information I m planning on getting from the 6th graders then my final product will be great and very useful.
   So in the end my FINAL SCORE for option #1, the board game, was of a score 18 out of 20. This score was almost perfect which leads me to believe that this will probably be the choice for my presentation. I think that with the scores being so high that this will be a better representation. But who know I still haven't rated the other one. I tried to get in the mindset of a 6th grader so I would score it accurately. Obviously this scores are totally up to me, I will have to work efficiently to make some changes in my design so that those 4's can eventually turn into 5's and it can be a successful product.

Something Online (Arcade Game)

Measurement	Sore (1-5)
Themes	3
Kinestethic	0
layout	3
Simplicity	4
Total	10

   Since I did not actually look into an arcade website, my answers are probably not accurate, but I would think that the THEME are limited and not customisable. Which is why I decided to score it a 3.I would think that this might be interesting to SOME of the kids but not everyone. Some kids don't like playing games on the computer, I know I don't. I am gonna be honest and say that I feel like I am being bias but the reality of this is that I don't see myself actually trying to figure out how to find the perfect theme for all of the 6th graders on an arcade game online. I am not given many options and I can't go back a reprogram the way the website is ran.I want to have the power to say what I want to do and how I feel kids will learn,  and that is not from a template that a website gives me.
   The limitations of an arcade game online are obvious. This is something that you would need a computer and Internet to be able to use. I scored it a 0 in KINESTHETIC . I would like to see the students have something that they feel they can use regardless of the purpose of the actual game board, and with the arcade game although the theme helps it is not something they can hold in their hand and observe. My project has to be tangable something that they can PLAY with. This kids are still at an age were they like to mess around and I would think that they would rather mess around with a game  board than with a computer because if something happens to the computer they would have to pay for it and that would get them introuble although that is not a valid argument since they probably don't care.... But anyways the score was given due to the fact that it doesnt make sense in my mind to give them something that I consider a waste of time and effort becouse I am not 100% sure that they will learn from it and I don't want to jepordize their learning.
    Its hard to think of an extreme, SUPER hard LAYOUT out there for gaming in itself, so when I think of  the layout of an online arcade game I can;t really say negative things. I think me scoring it a 3 is fair because I think that there are definitely some programs out there that have nice layouts that are children friendly. I could of scored it higher, like a 4, but the thing is that I would need to go in and actually see the websites of these arcade game and at this point I really can't go back. And again in these kinds of websites I can't make my own layout and on those in which there is an option to do so; adding to it is not an option you can only take away. And quite frankly I don't want to mess around with it, I like having the control and being able to do my own decisions specially with this project.
    I scored it a 4 in SIMPLICITY. Even though I scored it kind of low in the rest I believe that it can be a simple website kids will easily understand. That doesn't necessarily mean that they will understand it, its just that they will know what to press to start playing. And that is not the idea for this project. They need to able to learn from playing, or so I believe but they need to be able to retain that information and later on apply it so that the show they have learned it. Even though they are able to understand they are not necessarily learning, and therefore the idea doesn't work. I know I'm probably being more than bias because I am sold on the conselt of the board game but I am trying to look at it as a researcher would; so I am over analying it.
    So for my last scoring as the TOTAL, I added up all of the other components and it came up to a 10. Its half of 20 so its obviously something anyone could consider. I personally think that if I weren't doing the board game I would deffinitely be doing something along the lines of an online arcade game, but not right now. I want to do something that I feel comfortable working with and I fell like an program online limits my control and creativity and I can't worl very efficiently that way. So it has some work to do, again this is my opinion, I can't speak for anyone when I give my scores because everyone is different and they don't all learn the same way.

Reflection: Day 2

 So far I have no idea as to what I am gonna do. This is scary because we need to be done with this stage of the design cycle by Monday. Today I looked at some websites on the hope of finding the perfect tool to teach the 6th graders the design cycle. I found that it was easier said than done....
I am very frustrated because I don't know how I'm gonna present this, or if I am even gonna do it using an online source. The easiest thing at this point it just do something in which I won't have to use a web based program but something I can physically produce.

   So with that being said I'm going to work really hard into getting some interesting and different ideas for this project. I am not gonna lie this is challenging and I can't seem to find a way out. I could possibly choose to make a board game.  Also I was looking to cartoonster which was a complete waste of my time.It wasn't even a place where I can work it was more of a resource as to how to draw.

   I am not even thinking about the rubric at this point, right now I just want to see if these kids would be able to understand the consept. But I do know that I would have to test  the simplicity, kinesthetics , and the layout.

Design Folder

HOW DO I MAKE SOUND CHOICES? HOW CAN MY LEARNING HELP MY COMMUNITY?



Area of Interaction: Community and Service , Approaches to Learning & Human Ingenuity
Significant Concept: Design Cycle can be used to solve problems
Unit Question: How can my learning help my community? How do I make Sound Choices?
INVESTIGATE: (Write in complete sentences) Identify the Problem
1. What is the problem you need to solve?
We need to effectively clarify the design cycle to 6th graders in a way that they understand the concept and are able to apply it.

2. How does the Design Cycle apply to the real world? 
Not necessarily do people realize that they are using the "design cycle", but if you think about it, we do it all the time. When we encounter a problem, we always think about past experiences and what we did to solved them, that being our investigation process. We also think of ways to fix the problem, that being the design stage. Once we actually put a time and date to our actions that is when we "plan" what we are gonna do to fix the problem, being obviously the planning stage. The moment we begin solving the problem is when we began to "create" a solution to the problem. And finally when the problem is either solved or just miserably failed at least you tried and think about what could of been done differently or about how you can improve the way you solve things, thats the final stage which is the evaluation part of the design cycle.

3. How will this project serve my community?
I think that when we begin to think about ways to help others we are helping our community through the mutual involvement of the helper and the help receiver by enriching the learning and understanding of everyone around us.

4. How can my learning help my community?
My learnings can be applied through the work I contribute to, meaning if I learn how to cook for example I can use those skills to help feed those individuals in my community that aren't that fortunate.

5. How do we live in relation to each other?
If both the community and the individual choose to help each other and collaborate I would think that the community would be a place rich of knowledge.

6. How does this help others? 
I would assume that if everyone is helping each other and collaborating  to make things better then the world would be a happier place for everyone to live in.

7. What are the requirements for this assignment? 
We need to be able to get the message across for 6th graders who don't understand the design cycle.

8. What is the Design Cycle?
The process we follow when working on a project or a problem in our everyday lives.

REFLECT on your learning.
Day 2

9. Spend one day experimenting with DESIGN CYCLE your presentation. List five things your learned about the Design Cycle:
* its very simple
* very applicable and easy to understand
* something we should use more often....
* helpful

Day 3
Design Brief
10. Write a short statement of what you are going to make, why you are going to make it, and for whom you are making it.
Formulate a Design Specification
11. What are the requirements for this assignment?
12. What are the limitations you have with this assignment?
13. How will you "test" your presentation?
REFLECT ON YOUR LEARNING
PLAN:
14. Brainstorm ideas. Use the chart below
IB Brainstorming Chart .pdf found in schoology under “materials”& then files
15. What idea did you choose to demonstrate the design cycle and why did you choose it?
16. Does your idea meet all of the requirements?
17. Use the story board paper below to plan your presentation.  Include how many levels you will have, what will be on each level, how will you include teaching skills to young students, and what will your questions be about.
story board.pdf found in schoology under “materials” & then files.
18. Explain how you will use your time to get your project finished in 12 days:
REFLECT on your learning
EVALUATE:
20. How could you improve your presentation?
21. Does your presentation meet all of the requirements?
22. Share your presentation with at least 2-8th, 3-9th, 4-10th+ friends. What did he/she like about your presentation?
23. Reflect on all the steps of the Design Cycle. What did you do well? What do you need to improve?
24. Were you responsible in using the software, Internet, pictures, and computer?
25. How can my learning help my community?
26. What grade do you deserve on this project? (1 - 6)

ATTITUDE:
27. Reflect on your attitude on each step of the Design Cycle. Did you completely answer each step without complaining, being a whiny baby, or saying "it's too hard". Explain your answer:
28. What grade do you deserve on your attitude? (1 - 6)