Simulation or Game

DEFINITION

A simulation is a visual representation of a process or concept. Simulations can be interactive, requiring user input. A game is an activity based on rules involving play and user interaction. Games can be competitive.

WORKFLOW

Initial Setup

1. Teacher obtains and installs authoring software
2. Students create individual accounts to publish and share their inventions.

Ongoing Use

1. Teams brainstorm, plan, design and storyboard an idea.
2. Individuals create different elements required in and for the project.
3. Project elements are combined into a final product and shared with others.

TOOLS

1. Scratch Software (free, Win/Mac/Linux, from MIT)
2. GameSalad (free, ports to iOS, Android & more)
3. Platinum Arts Sandbox Free 3D Game Maker (free)
4. Trimble SketchUp (free, formerly Google SketchUp)
5. Lego Digital Designer (free)
6. Sketch Nation Studio (free)
7. Hopscotch HD (free, for iPad)
8. AppArchitect

SCRATCH EXAMPLES

1. Scratch Simulations
   1. Mitosis (Scratch)
   2. New Year Fireworks (Scratch)
   3. More Outstanding Scratch Simulations (Scratch gallery)
2. Scratch Games
   1. 3 Level Maze (Scratch, created by an incoming 3rd grader)
   2. Don’t Be Seen (a clever 8 level avoid the laser / get to the wizard game, created by an incoming 3rd grader)
   3. 9 different Scratch games created by 3-6 graders (March 2013 Scratch Camp)
   4. More Outstanding Scratch Games (Scratch gallery)

MORE RESOURCES

Video Tutorials:

1. Create a Video Game with Scratch (a 9 part “Mentor Mob” tutorial)
2. How to Embed a Scratch Project on a Google Site Page (2.5 min)
3. LearnScratch.org videos (organized  into 4 video courses with 32 total lessons)

Scratch and Microworlds Resource site by Lois Smethurst.

See these April 2012 posts by Wesley Fryer for more information about GameSalad:

1. Why Every Teacher Should Become an App Creator by Chris Thompson
2. Hands-on Introduction to Mobile Learning App/Game Creation for Non-Programmers

* Image attribution: Digital art created by Wesley Fryer using the iPad app “Brushes“