Virtual Field Trip

Partner: Felipe Sanchez
Location: Zona Cafetera
Tech 2: Stixy.com
Link to our Stixy: http://www.stixy.com/guest/247253

Tech Tool Evaluation

http://www.creazaeducation.com/about_creaza

Three things I liked about Creaza.com

1) It has multiple things you can do such as video editing, make a comic strip, make a mind map, and audio edit.
2) The website is completely free.
3) When you make cartoons, you can choose a historical setting or a historical group of people or person.

Three things I dislike about the page:

1) The website doesn't explain so well the features it has.
2) It is not easy to start a project.
3) Page doesn't load.

I could use this website in two ways:

1) Make a storyboard.
2) Create and edit a film for a project.

http://www.stixy.com/

Three things I liked about this website were:

1) You can do a organized bulletin board.
2) It is a free website and it is very easy to use.
3) It is very easy to use. You upload anything you want to your computer and then you drag any icon that says image or document and you post it.

Three things I dislike:

1) You can't add any background to your bulletin board.
2)  They could add a feature that can make cartoons or storyboards.
3) They can also add a widget were you can add videos.

I could use this website in this two ways:

1) Make a poster for a class project.
2) Use it to make posters for STUCO promoting an event.

Google Day # 5

Today my partner and me are going to prepare are presentation and play the game to see how it works and if we need to change anything. We are going to create a power point as our presentation.

College Exploration on Naviance

The two colleges I am thinking about right now are Yale University and Julliard School. This are the other two colleges that I am going to research about: UCLA and AMDA. This are the categories that I am interested in: The GPA, the SAT scores, the ACT scores, tuition and fees, applications accepted, number of people who graduate from the college, and the majors that each college offers. This colleges offer acting so that is why I am interested.

	Julliard School	Yale University	UCLA	AMDA
The GPA	doesn't say	4	4	3.14
The SAT scores	doesn't say	2225	1940	1540
The ACT scores	doesn't say	32	28	22
Tuition and Fees	$33,630	$40,500	$12,686/ $35,564	$30,260
Applications accepted	7%	7%	26%	31%
# of people that graduate	89%	96%	90%	doesn't say
Majors college offers	Bachelor's and Master's degrees.	Master's degree in Acting.	Non of the majors work for me.	Certificate and bachelor's.

My GPA from last quarter was 3.51 without the PreAp bump. This is the GPA you need to get in into AMDA: 3.10. The GPA to get into Yale is 3.85. The GPA to get into The Julliard School is non. Julliard doesn't require an exact GPA not even an exact SAT score. It is just about an audition. The average GPA to get into UCLA is 3.75. I am very close to get the GPA required to get into UCLA. I don't need an average GPA to get into Juilliard. I am not that far to get to the average GPA to get into Yale but achieving this will require a lot of work. I already have the GPA required to get into AMDA. I  probably have a very good chance to get into Juilliard due to the fact that they are looking for a very well written essay, some recommendations, and a good interview. They are not as interested in my SAT, ACT, and GPA. I really don't stand a chance in being accepeted into Yale University. The scores of both the ACT and SAT are very high and the GPA required is a 3.85. I have a very high chance of getting in into the AMDA because the GPA, SAT, and ACT scores are not so high. If I continue to have the high scores I have, I will probably get in very easily. I have a medium chance of getting into UCLA because if I achieve the GPA they require and  my SAT and ACT are high enough I could get in. 

After searching for colleges today I learned that what we ame for soemtimes seems easy but when you actually start to work for it you find out is much more harder to achieve what you want. I also learned that some of the colleges I wanted to apply are just to hard to get accepeted in and maybe that will not be the best option. But that doesn't mean I will not ame for some of those colleges. That also doesn't mean that I will ame for some lame university as well. This also taught me to keep aiming high and that in order to achieve your goal you have to work for it. This will change my student habit somehow. I will get better grades in order to get a higher GPA. 

Tardy

Dear Ms. Shawn,

I am sorry I am late for the past to classes. Last time I got confused and went to German's class. Today I was late because last class I was with you so I thought I had German today. But according to him he had free period and I had class with him today. Please excuse my two tardy. This will never happen again.

Sincerely, Nicolas

Google Day # 4

The main goal of the day is to finish the game.

We are going to achieve this goal by working together. We are going to continue adding different backgrounds as the if they were the different levels until the character reaches the enchanted castle where the Blue King that was kidnapped is located. We have already finished the setting were the character begins it quest. It has some villains he has to fight, it is surrounded by mountains and some houses, and the path he has to take in order to get to the castle in black so it is easy to follow. Here are some pictures of the main setting.   

Google Day # 3

This are the three goals of the day:

1. Decide the story about the game or what the games is  going to be about.
2. Start working on the actual game.
3. Create the character and teach him how to do things.

The story of the game is about the character which does kind of like a quest or race to get to the enchanted castle where they have the Blue King. The setting will be changing as the character moves on until he reaches his castle. The setting where he will start will be a town.

Today we have created the character This are some of the pictures of the game progress with done today.

The character is very cute character. He is a robot we could say that is on top of a wheel and a has a pair of jets at his back.  He can also shoot missiles. Here are some pictures:

After working with Kodu I learned how to make the setting and create the character. I Also learned how to change the setting and the colors. I also learned how to use the keyboard in order to change, manipulate, and add things to my world.

Next time I want to finish the first level and create the next one with new difficulties and landscapes for the game. 

Google 20% Project Day 2

Google Day # 2

My three goals of the day are:

1. Find some of the most successful computer games and why are they successful.

2. Choose the site we will use to make the actual game and why did we chose that site.

3. What awards and accolades can you win for a very successful and popular game.

1. This are/is some useful link/s:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_game_franchises

Wikipedia explains which game franchises were the most successful by the number of copies sold of the game. This is the list of the franchises that sold more than 100 million copies:

-Mario sold 450.22 million copies.

- The sub franchise of Mario sold 275.73 million copies.

- Pokemon sold 219.28 million copies.

This is the list of some of the games that sold more than 50 million copies:

-Madden NFL sold 90 million copies.

-Sonic The Hedgehog sold 85.13 million copies.

-Mario Kart franchise sold 80.8 million copies.

2. This are/is some useful link/s:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-FjskAHgN0

I used YouTube as useful link because I found the tutorial  of Kodu which is the game creator we are going to use. The tutorial explains what are the steps to use this game creator that can be downloaded very easily and for free. This video also explains you can use any control to work create your game such as an Xbox control, your computer keyboard, etc. It also explains the icons utility and how each one works.

3. This is/are the useful link/s:

http://www.spike.com/shows/video-game-awards

This is the official site of the Spike Video Game Awards or the VGA. This an award that is given specifically to computer games and console games. It honors the best awards of the year. This site gives the acceptance speeches of lat year's winners, the schedule of the award show and the nominees.

This are some of last year's winners for top categories:

-Game of the Year: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
-Character of the Year: The Joker
-Best PC game: Portal 2
-Best Xbox 360 game: Batman Arkham City

After researching today I learned many things. I learned how to use Kodu by watching a simple video on YouTube. I learned that there is an award called the VGA that honor the best games of the year, I learned that Mario has been the most successful franchise ever, selling over 100 million copies worldwide. I also learned about some of the nominees from last year such as Batman Arkham City, Skyrim, etc.

Next Google 20 percent day want to start the actual game now that I know how to use Kodu.

Storyboard.com Webiste

http://www.storyboardthat.com/

After exploring this website and watching the intoductory video, the webiste's purpose is to create a storyboard in a fast and easy way. It is also used to share and express ideas and to tell a story in a fun and simple way.

This is the step by step explanation of how to use the website:

Step 1: To start your own storyboard just click on an icon that says Create a Storyboard.

Step 2: If you are doing a video or a play for a class project the best thing to organize the events is by creating a storyboard. The first step to use this website is choose where you plot of the story will take place. After you have chosen the setting just drag it into the panel. If you want to rotate the image or change the size just click on it and a yellow box will appear.

Step 3: After choosing the setting choose the characters they offer in the website and just drag them into the panel. There are many avatars you can choose from. Some are black and white, others are stick men, etc. If you want to adjust the character's size, position, etc.,  just click on it and a little box will appear with all the tools you need.

Step 4: Once you are done adjusting the characters and the setting to your own taste or style, click on the word that says textables. This is the place you choose the bubble where you will write what your character wants to say. To adjust the text size or the bubble itself once again click on it and the famous yellow box will appear.

Step 5: In case you want revert something you added that you didn't want in a specific panel just click the on the word undo below the panels. If you deleted something you wanted you click on redo also located under the panels.

Step 6: If you at any chance want more panels just click on soemthing that says switch to 6 panels.

Step 7: If you by any chance want to start again the whole thing just click clear all located under your panels.

Step 8: Once you are done with your project or storyboard just click on the save button that is located under your panels. A box will appear requesting the title and a despcription which is optional. Write in the title and click save.

Step 9: If you didn't like what you saved or need to edit it, just click on the edit icon or if you want to delete the project just click on the delete icon.

Step 10: Finally if you want to start a new storyboard just click on the icon that says Create a Sotryboard, or if you want a copy of your project just click on Create a Copy.

This is an example of my very lame Storyboard......

Students in the class might want to use this as a way to create a comic in quick and fun way.

Digital Nation

Agree:
- I do agree with the fact that students this days are different than before because today everybody use technology to study, research, interact with other people, playing, etc., before people used textbooks and other resources to all this things I just mentioned. We literally can't live without technology.

- I agree with the study they did in Stanford University about multi-taskers because I do multi-tasking sometimes I am more slow that when I focuse in one simple task.

-I agree that technology can also harm childhood because we kids are too busy chatting on Facebook, using the internet, etc., and this days people do not like to read books, we are not as well as we use to be in writing, arts, etc.

-I agree that technology is making us worse students because we are focused on playing games, facebook, etc and we are not focusing in studies.

- I agree that this era is filled with people who meet in internet, games, social places like Twitter, etc.

-I agree that technology have changed the world in am positive way but it, is also affecting our communicating skills between ourselves.

- I agree that technology is creating potatoe couches. People no longer have to go to the office to work. You can work from home.

-I agree that now a days childhood is not playing with toys and having fun becoming a super hero, now childhood is playing Xbox, Wii, etc.

-I agree that people change due to internet.

-I agree between people that were born in the tech era and in the past area.

-I agree that internet has made people learn to read summaries and not actual books.

-I agree that games are worlds made of our fantasies and imposible desires.




Disagree:

- I disagree that technology is something that we need in order to be "adapted" in this century because we can also be adap[ted to this century doing other sutff.

-I disagree that all multi-taskers are bad at it because not all of them are.

-I disagree that the fact that people that do not like technology are not adapted to the current century.

-I disagree that internet is very friendly like they say. I can also be very dangerous.

-I disagree that second life is like real life. First of all the graphics are very bad. Second, your are not living real life. In this secong life your avatar do not feel, think, etc.

-I disagree with the fact that teachers assign a book mwith more than 200 pages. Currently I am reading a 100 page book.

- I disagree with the people that say that memory is lost this days. That is not true. Actors sometimes have to memmorize and learn a whole script.

-I disagree with the fact that games make you lose your intelligence. It may slow down your thinking process but you don't lose it completely.

After college how do I get into my career field?

-Topic or question you are researching

-correct label-CAREERS

-links to websites where you found useful information (at least 3)

-Summary of the information you found that answered the question/topic (this needs to be a well written, informative paragraph or two that others could read and find the answer to the question)

-New questions you have about this topic. (at least 1)

After reading about this question in various different websites, they all said this one specific thing. After you get out of college you need to get an agent. This are the three things you need in order to get a great agent:

1. The agent sees your work.

2. You are recommended to an agent by a director, cast director, producer, or an actor that works for that agent. 

3. You have to turn in by email your photo and resume to even get the interview. 

This is the website I found this information: http://www.fabjob.com/actorsample.html

This are some of the top acting agencies according to this website: http://top10links.com/cat.php/Arts:Movies:Industry:Agencies

1. Creative Artists Agency

2. William Morris Agency

3. United Talent Agency

4. Innovative Artists

5. IMG Artists 

6. Fameagency

7. Stars 

8. Affinity

9. CSTAR Management 

10. Look Talent

Game Design

Topic name

-Correct label (TOPICS)

-What you know about the topic before your research

-What you wonder or questions you have about the topic before researching (at least 2)

-Links to where you found the most useful information (at least 2, NOT Wikipedia, although you can use it to help you)

-Bullet list of things you learned about the topic (at least 5)

-A short summary of how this topic connects/relates to you or your life

-Questions you still have (at least 1)

I know nothing about game design. 

2 questions:

1. How does a game designer make a great game?

2. What program do I have to use in order to make a great game design?

According to this website http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/games/goodgame.html a good game designer has to include all of the following items:

-Continuous challenge 

-Interesting storyline

-Flexibility

-Immediate, useful rewards

-Combining fun and realism

According to this website http://www.thegamecreators.com/ they have various tools to develop game, graphics, 3D modeling, and game audio. This is a great website to a computer game with tools that are easy to use. 

This relates to my life because I play games (not very often) but I still like them. I still have this question though, Who are the greatest game designers and what are their secrets?

Google Day 1

Goals of the day:

1. Find useful webistes that explain how to do game.

2. Find out what makes an game successful.

3. Find out what it takes to publish an game.

1. This are some of the useful links that explain how to do an app or game:

http://fuse.microsoft.com/page/kodu

Kodu is a website that explains how to do games in an easy and exciting way. It has both written and video explanations of how to do a game. It also shows examples.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xauuWekRFAM

This is a tutorial given by a kid. This menas it can't be that hard. It explains every single step of how to do a game with a program called Alice. 

2. This are some of the links that answer question 2:

http://www.thegamesjournal.com/articles/WhatMakesaGame.shtml

Here a guy named Wolfang Cramer that explains the characteristics of a great game:

-Originality

-Freshness and replayability

-Surprise

-Equal opportunity

-Winning chances

-No early elimination

-No "kingmaker effect"

-Reasonable waiting times

-Creative control

and many more......

3. This is a link that explains the things you have to have in order to publish your game:

http://reverbpublishing.com/terms-conditions/

This are the things you need to have:

• ncorporated Policies and Terms
• License and Site Access
• Copyright
• Trademarks and Service Marks
• Third-Party Content
• Linking
• Submissions
• Infringement
• Export Restrictions
• Disclaimers
• Limitation of Liability
• Applicable Law and Venue
• Termination
• Severability 

This copied directly from the website.

Google 20%

For my Google 20% project my partner and I want to learn how to do an app. More specifically a app game. I want to learn how to create the  scenario, the characters, the plot of the game, how to cheat on the game, etc. I want start creating small interesting games, and then develop a very complex game. I also want to find out what ares the "rules" or requirements we need to achieve in order to publish our app. I am going to research next class about the requirements, what are the game options or topics, etc. 

My final product will be a published game. But not a simple one. A very complex game with great things, characters, and gadgets on it. But before I can achieve my final project I will start by creating small and short games to show my daily learning. 

LINK

C/C website

Tech2

This is the tech2 section.

Skills

This the skills section

Career

This is the career section.

Code

This is where codes will go.

Topics

This where my topics will go.