Annotated Bibliography

Multimedia Development Mindmap
CDM Year 2

E-Learning and Constructivism: From theory to application
Koohang, A., Riley, L., Smith, T. & Schreurs, J. (2009). E-Learning and Constructivism: From Theory to Application. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 5(1), 91-109. Informing Science Institute. Retrieved February 10, 2019 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/44824/.

This academic paper published by the Informing Science Institute explores a learner focused model which assists e-learning performances centered within e-learning mediums. This model displays two main categories, learning design and assessment elements which are both explored in depth to acknowledge a further understanding. While the model is solely based on the constructivism learning theory, examples shown within the paper indicate the models applications. The paper also presents us with the highly detailed use of this model in an actual e-learning environment in order to display it's purpose and effect. The meaning of constructivism itself is also a highlighted topic as we are informed of its history and execution. 

Open Source: A metaphor for E-Learning
Informing Science Journal, Volume 8, 2005, Open Source: A Metaphor for E-Learning, Alex Koohang University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, USA Keith Harman Northcentral University Prescott, Arizona, USA 

This paper discusses what open source is and it's use for the purpose of e-learning. It's explored the open source topic in depth in order to prove the point of open source and e-learning being intertwined with each other while tracing their history and links to the constructivist movement. Three main topic areas are hit on as the paper introduces instructional philosophy, instructional practices and instructional platforms which are all included within the area of e-learning. Metaphors are used as a prime example in theory development which is evidently displayed throughout the duration of this paper. The purpose of the creation of this paper is to inform and educate scholars and education workers while also enabling them to explore this new metaphor for e-learning. 

Constructivism vs objectivism: Where is the difference for designers of e-learning environments?
Proceedings 3rd IEEE International Conference on Advanced Technologies,  9-11 July 2003, Publisher: IEEE

This paper touches on the various types of learning and their online appearances within learning environments. The inner workings of academic learning are brought to light as we take a deeper look into the education system. Institutions providing higher education often implicate restrictions on their students therefore restricting their ability to learn and explore their pathways thus clearly showing the restrictions on constructivism. Sub-topics of constructivism are dissected and explained through the use of models and the importance of considering pedagogical components of design beforehand. 

Pedagogical quality in e-learning
E-learning and Education, 2005, Peer Review, Humanities, Journal article

The following article discusses designing e-learning from a theoretical point of view. The aim of this article is to create some type of a functional system and understanding of e-learning from a pedagogical standpoint.Taking a theoretical approach in this manner further explores the tie that binds evaluation and design. Three frameworks are presented here which are radical constructivism, activity theory and cognitivism. 

Constructivism: Theory, perspectives and practice

Second edition, editor Catherine Twomey Fosnot, publisher: Teacher's College Press, Teachers College, Columbia University New York and London 

This paper introduces the multiple theories of learning which include behaviorism, maturationism and constructivism. These forms of learning are explored as are their different theories with reasons for each theory. The biological structure and evolutionary systems are contributed as a considerable factor in the theory and practice of constructivism. The application of constructivism to education discusses in further detail what this theory of learning entails. 

Multimedia Project Research

Kids educational game
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This year for our Multimedia development 2 project I've joined a group of like-minded people in my course to collaborate and create an educational game targeted at young kids between junior infants and first class or kids aged 4-6.

My team consists of myself Robyn Mulhall, Nhu Thai, Emma Byrne, Marcin Grabiki, Esmee MacPherson, Nicole Goodman and Eva Garrett. Together we hope to create an interactive learning game/app.

Our aim is to create a fun game that invites kids to play, learn and have fun at the same time. While we are referring to this as a game for the moment it's basically a form of interactive learning. As a team we discussed how we could possibly create this, we'll use either e-learning or zebra apps.

This idea is similar to that of Duolingo however our game is targeted at young kids who are eager to learn in a fun way. Therefore the game itself will be easy to use and simple as we aim to create it with our target audience in mind. In the game kids will learn about subjects such as English, science, Irish, maths, art etc. To use our time efficiently we hope to pair up on a different subject creations as well as audio, sounds and design.

Links for inspiration:
PBS Kids
Arcademics.com
Reading Eggs

Games Testing

For this weeks reading we learned all about testing games and the importance of it as well as learning about criticism. Criticism can come in many forms, some can handle and accept it while others have problems taking constructive criticism.

This article explores criticism in all its forms and gives helpful advice on how to take it. Criticism can be very helpful and useful to those who accept it and use it to improve in their lives. Constructive criticism helps us to show each other where our strong points are and where we could improve. It's highly important to focus on being valid and giving unbiased feedback. It's also important not to let your personal opinion get in the way of the feedback. This article also makes a good point by stating three key things to include when giving feedback. These three things are to make your criticism clear, relevant and understandable. The article then ends by providing a list of tips for carrying out good criticism.

The other article named Level 11:Testing talked about the idea of play testing. It's always vital to be able to play test your own game while also allowing others to be able to play test it. From this we'll be able to know if our game is fully functional and provides us with useful information. This information will be very beneficial to our game.

Overall I found these articles to be very helpful and informative as they taught me a lot about giving and receiving criticism and also game testing and it's importance.

Testing
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Links:
Game tester
TestBytes
Games Criticism

Alpha

For the duration of this week I've been trying hard to further develop my game with Unity and fix some problems that I had in the previous week. Firstly after a lot of trial and error I finally fixed the red scene. Last week my entire game magically turned itself red as I was applying a grass texture and I didn't know how to fix it so this week I focused on that and eventually solved it! My scene appears normal once more. 

I further developed my game this week by creating a variety of old style houses. As my game takes place in a town on an island I had to create a lot of these houses to compose a town type of setting. This took awhile as I've to make an entire town and add windows and doors to the houses. I also created a fog setting which I'm very happy about as I think it turned out very well and adds the creepy effect that I wanted my game to have. It took a while to perfect the fog and get it to the consistency that I wanted but I got there eventually and I'm happy with the outcome. I created more landscape too by adding shrubbery, bushes, creating a different variety of trees and another mountain range. My first person controller is now able to walk freely through the wisps of fog and collect gems. 

My plan now is to continue creating and finishing off my town with more houses and to try add in another sub-character or two. I'd also like to try and find how to create or add in streetlamps so I'll do my research on that this week and hopefully find an answer on how to do it. Below are screenshots of my progress, notice the red scene is fixed! 

My game

Unity free tutorials

This week for the Unity free tutorials I chose two tutorials that I thought would be great assets to my game. The first tutorial I watched was 'How to make a mini map' by Jimmy Vegas. I began by right clicking my player and creating a camera. I then dragged the camera upwards to create a downwards angle on the player. From here I created a render texture to create the mini map. I then went to game objects, UI and created a raw image where I also edited the height and width. Lastly for this tutorial I created a small circle that would indicate where the player is on the map.

The next tutorial I watched was another one by Jimmy Vegas called 'How to create a main menu'. I started in the main camera section where I created a button from the game object section. I then created a play button and a quit button which I scripted for using Javascript to link the buttons. These are the main menu buttons which have two functions. From there I dragged and dropped the script to the game object and applied the script. Finally I was able to create my animated main menu.

I found these tutorials to be very helpful as they really helped me to create important aspects that I'd like to include in my own game. I find that choosing my own tutorials is helping me to further develop my game and get it to a decent standard.

Game
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Game Stories

For this week's reading we were given two articles called "Into the woods: A practical guide to the Hero's Journey" and "What every game developer needs to know about Story". Both of these articles sparked my interest and both were very informative about the topic of the Hero's story. The article that I enjoyed the most was the first one which explored Joseph Campbell's work. 

In this article we explored and dissected the journey that the hero of the story has to go through in order to fulfill a myth. Firstly the question is what practical use is the hero's journey to us as storytellers and game writers? It's important because myths are important, they're how we teach each other how to behave and who we are. Myths are also used to guide actions, The Cry for Myth by Rollo May is used here as an example. This example shows that there's an adaptive advantage to myths. It also goes into the theory of "kin selection" which states that evolutionary fitness gives genes the ability to promote survival and copies of itself. 

Successful tribes were tribes that found ways to encourage everyone to act for the good of the tribe instead of themselves individually. In this article the author also explained what would happen if a myth was taken away from a man. The man would become depressed and mentally ill. Storytelling and literature are the main medias used to tell different myths. Literature proves that there is in fact order in the universe. 

Joseph Campbell also summarized a list of elements of a good myth which included establishing the hero's world, the call to adventure, gaining the hero's prize and finally returning it to the community. Next we learned how to use the hero's journey to build stories which was explained in a number of steps. The first step is to pick a theme and myth which leads to the next step of creating the hero which would be someone who can embody that premise. The third step shows us some characteristics on how to create a good villain. Some of these characteristics include traits similar to the hero, he maybe an outlaw, clever and resourceful, cruel and not forgiving. Step four tells us to show the hero's normal world, the player must see the hero's world that he's trying to save. The fifth step is to disrupt the hero's world, this can be done by taking him out of his normal world and forcing him into action. Next is to enter the mythological woods for the trail of trials. Each level should show the incremental growth. Step seven is to confront the evil one or fight the bad guy. The eight step is to acquire the prize which is the thing worth fighting to acquire. The final step is the hero's return in this part he will return the prize to the community. 

The next part of the article discusses the three act structure and the game designers journey. The designer must pick myths that people would believe and put those myths into the game. The myths that are created have the power to change lives. Finally, the designer must take the hero's journey themselves. 

Links:

Movie Outline

Dan Harmon

Piper

Hero's 

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First Playable

This week using Unity I developed my game further. So far I'm finding Unity a bit difficult as some of the simpler aspects have stopped working since I updated the Unity software to the latest version. Despite this I still tried my best to further develop my game as I'd like to at least make it look how I envisioned it in my game design document.

This week I further developed my game this week by creating a couple of gems which will be hidden in the tall grass and trees within my game. I also successfully added in my chosen background music which I'm fairly proud of as not many things in Unity have worked for me this week! I chose a calm, mellow piece of background music that will loop throughout my game while it's being played.
The textures, materials, music and structures are working well for me.

The main problem I had with Unity this week is unexplained really somehow my game scenery has turned red. This happened as I was adding textures so it might have something to do with that.
My plan for the future week is to hopefully create and structure some more houses on the island as I mentioned in my previous post Unity crashed many times and erased my building structures so I plan on recreating them in the coming week. I also plan on adding some bloom aspects and some sound fx.

This is what my game looked like before it suddenly turned red.

Game image