Dec 6, 2007

Today is our last day so we'll wrap up the semester. I'll collect the Cell Phone papers, then I'll have just a few final words and take a few closing comments.

Then you're done!

Topics

Homework

Dec 4, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 29, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 27, 2007

Yet another brief day as all we have to do is see Luke's presentation from last week.

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 20, 2007

Today is a very brief day to let you start your Thanksgiving a bit early.

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 15, 2007

Topics

Homework

Nov 13, 2007

I don't think it's possible for the day to get any simpler.

Topics:

Scavenger Hunt:

Nov 08, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 06, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Nov 01, 2007

Topics:

• Real Life Sim Presentation by Heather
• Discuss: Virtual Itza
• Discuss: Virtual World, Real Life Lawyers
• Discuss: Second Life Faces Mobile Death
• Discuss: Beijing Police Will Patrol Web Virtually
• Discuss: Real Hope in a Virtual World
• Discuss: Dennis Kucinich Opens Up Shop in Second Life
• Discuss: How a Computer Game Glitch Could Help to Fight Off a Global Pandemic

Homework:

Oct 30, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 25, 2007

Today we tackle the issues surrounding the second half of your "final" project. ...among other things...

Homework

Oct 23, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 18, 2007

No Class in the classroom today.

Please take this time to work on your Software Simulation Instructional Design packet. They're due next Thursday!

Oct 16, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 11, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 9, 2007

Topics:

Homework:

Oct 4, 2007

Three Real Life Sims: Bobby, Alex, & Brian

Topics:

• Oddware Presentations.

Homework:

Oct 2, 2007

No SL Presentations today.

Topics:

Homework:

Sep 27, 2007

Two Real Life Sim presentations. Bobby & Jesse

Topic:

Homework:

Sep 25, 2007

• The Crooked House
• Virtual Hallucinations
• Myst Online

Scavenger Hunt : A pet of some sort. We'll meet at the Beach House and show them off.

Sep 20, 2007

Real Life Simulation Presentation by: Bobby

Topics:

• Hardware Prototypes

Homework:

• Oddware

Sep 18, 2007

Second Life Sim: Mike

Other places by Damian

Homework

• Optional: Jewelry with "bling."

Sep 13, 2007

Real Life Sim: Jerilyn

Topics:

• My 4th Newspaper Interview about UB and Second Life.
• Four interesting Second Life books.
• Second Life Terrorism
• Second Life Punishment
• Reuters in Second Life
• Disaffected!

Homework

• Play Disaffected

 

Sep 11, 2007

Today we meet in Second Life at 11am.
Jesse will be presenting his first Second Life simulation.

Sep 6, 2007

Here are the topics we will be covering today:

• Ricky's Real Life Sim Presentation
• Non-Computer Platforms
• Computer Based Platforms

Homework

• No Homework
• Optional: New Avatar Hair in Second Life

Sep 4, 2007

Today we meet in Second Life.
Regular class time: 11am.
Run Ventrilo and log in to the server.
(Get the server / port info from the blue panel.)
Log into Second Life and I'll send you a teleport
to our location.

Homework:
(Read the Class Requirements for fuller details.)

• Student Setup
• Scavenger Hunt #1
• Class Photo

APPLIED SIMULATION     
COSC330.SG1     
Fall 2007     

-Ventrilo Information-     
Server: 69.12.74.141     
Port: 4143     

Now we will--at last!--look at ways in which computers can serve as the platform for training and simulation.

By now, we've all met at least once in Second Life, so let's talk about that a bit. How would you review it as a simulation? What does it simulate? Would you consider it to be a successful simulation? If you had carte blanche to make changes, how would you alter its functionings to make it a better or different simulation?

Simulation Games

We're all at least remotely aware of America's Army and A Force More Powerful. These are computer games that have a secondary--or heavily disguised primary--goal of teaching the player about the mission of the army and army life, and about non-violent regime change.

There is a diabetes game to teach youngsters how to manage their blood-sugar and insulin.

Let's try to think of some games that simulate some real world activity. Not necessarily for training. Microsoft's Flight Simulator, might be an example.

Games that Teach

Zombie Division (Link) is a scholastic fractions game.

Meteor Typing Blast (Link) is a quick-paced asteriods-type game that teaches typing skills.

What other computer games do we know of that fit a similar description: games that do teach or train?

Non-game Simulations

As much as we like games, and as much as we know that games that train are far superior to Powerpoint slides, many companies are terrified of the word game. The prospect of having their human resources play a game on company time is just unbearable. So you may find yourself tasked with creating computer-based interactive training that is a straightforward simulation.

Often a company will have developed a new software application and will want to train their employees how to use it. Your job will be to create a simulation of the software that looks just like the real thing--and in certain circumstances will act like the real thing--then lay your training on top of it. Your training will guide the user through the steps necessary to complete a task. For instance, if you were training someone to start a new Word document, you would have a screen shot of the Word window complete with the menu bar, button bar, and other widgets. Then a textbox would pop up that says something like: "To create a new document, click the New Document button." You would then show a picture of the button or perhaps have an obvious pointer that shows which is the target button. The user is then expected to click the indicated button. Once he does, your simulation moves to the next step--simulating what Word does when that button is clicked. Then the next instruction appears.

Frequently, this sort of CBT will have a teaching phase, followed by a testing phase. The teaching phase works as above guiding the user along, giving help, and letting the user backtrack to retry certain steps. The testing phase may be as simple as a multiple-choice and true/false test (delivered via the computer, of course) or another run through the simulation without all the guides and assistance. During the testing phase, the simulation keeps track of right and wrong responses and ultimately delivers a score indicating whether the user has passed / learned the material or if remediation is required.

This is a pretty common type of simulation and we'll look more closely at it later in the semester.

Computer-Aided Training

In addition to that sort of simulation there are other types of computer-only training. For instance, any PowerPoint presentation would fit this description. Typing tutors might fit in here as well.

What other sorts of non-game, computer-based training can we think of? How about this course and what I'm doing right now? It's not terribly interactive on your part, but it uses the computer and the Internet to teach you the material.

Differences in Terms

What's the difference (at least my difference) between "training," "simulation," and "game"?

How can you carry those forward in your SDE college career and beyond?