Crafts

A Craft is a large project that requires several weeks of development (5-15 stages). One can receive up to 10 XP per class session/stage for specific, itemized, and unique work toward the successful completion of the craft. The craft may implement skills learned in Putting Your School of the Web (CPED 5202), Multimedia (CPED 5301), or Computer Tools for Students and Teachers (CPED 5404), Mobile Computing (CPED 5204), Web 2.0 (CPED 5205), or Computer Architecture (CPED 5101).

The first Craft report is to describe the anticipated end result of the craft and the stages required to accomplish what will be done.

Crafts may be developed by Guilds, groups of players working together on the same project. However, the role of each guild member must be spelled out in advance.

For any craft to progress past the initial proposal, the Game-Master (Professor) must approve the Project.

So, where does one get Craft ideas? Think Creatively. Think on a Large scale.

In keeping with the topic of this course, one is encouraged to think about making a learning game. To do that, one first needs a topic - then a strategy to communicate the topic, including a vehicle to deliver the Craft.

First, consider the strategies at your disposal.

>>> a. The Craft must be multimedia (reflective of your CPED 5205 Web 2.0, CPED 5301 Multimedia course, CPED 5402 Digital Video, and CPED 5404 Computer Tools) to best display the ALM (Authentic Learning Model). >>> b. The Craft must be interactive, reflective of several of your classes, including CPED 5202, 5204, 5205, and 5404) >>> c. Implied in the "interactive," point above is that there will be choices - particularly demonstrated in this course, CPED 5401. >>> d. In keeping with the idea that the Craft is a game, some attempt must be made to make the Craft "fun."

>>> e. Creating multimedia for an interactive, multi-choice, fun Craft will require a large amount of time. A Craft of this nature will take 5 class stages worth of time with no less than 10 steps per stage - and could benefit from cooperative efforts of multiple creators, as long as the collaboration is truly cooperative and well integrated. This is NOT something thrown together in a a week or two.

>>> Second - Vehicle

>>> a. A class demonstration will show how to make a game using a commercial publisher for cards or a tabletop game. This will cost money, but may be the most satisfying in terms of having a tangible product for one's efforts.

>>> b. A Craft could build a game on a wiki site - as this course has been built.

>>> c. A game might also be built on a content management system, as you discussed in CPED 5202 Putting Your School on the Web.

>>> d. A blog is NOT likely to provide a suitable Craft platform, however. DO NOT plan to use a blog platform.

>>> e. A programming vehicle, such as Scratch, could build a game.

>>> f. PowerPoint can be used as a programming vehicle using the HyperLink commands, along with the hidden slide technique to make it interactive and non-linear. However, most people are so used to using PowerPoint in a linear fashion that they find it exceedingly difficult to use PowerPoint in a non-linear application. PowerPoint is NOT recommended, unless one has a very strong grasp of non-linear design techniques in PowerPoint.

>>> Third - Topic - What would you like to teach?

>>> **** You may use material you normally might teach in one of your classes - with advance approval from the Professor. >>> When done well, the Craft can total nearly 30% of the overall grade XP for this course - but it must truly be reflective of that level of commitment to achieve that level of reward.
 * You may wish to teach about educational philosophy from CPED 5202
 * You may wish to teach about authentic learning from CPED 5301
 * You may wish to teach about internet safety from CPED 5205
 * You may wish to teach about game-based learning from this course
 * You may wish to teach about digital video.
 * As you can see, this Craft is intended to spur you to think about topics you have learned in one or more of your classes, process it through your thinking and bring out an means of pleasantly communicating your ideas to potential students or colleagues. (Many of our former students become professional development leaders for their peers in their schools, once they have completed our program.)