Sugar Labs - User contributions [en]

Math4Team/RIT/Alumni/Spring-2009

2009-11-30T14:43:52Z

EricMallon: /* Computer Science */

{{TOCright}}
==Computer Engineering Technology==
===[[User:Nikeunltd|Kennedy Kong]]===
2nd Year

==Computer Science==
===[[User:Mdd8919 | Mitchell DeMarco]]===
xl

3rd Year

===[[User:Enimihil|Gregory Stevens]]===
5th Year (Graduating after this class)

Shirt size: Large

===[[User:Jck1089|James Kolb]]===
4th Year (Double majoring in Math)

Medium

===[[User:Qalthos|Nathaniel Case]]===
3rd Year<br>
Large shirt size

===[[User:Eldrac|G. Tyler Bragdon]]===
3rd Year (Minoring in Math)
Shirt Size: L

==Information Technology==
===[[User:bjr9081|Brendan Reen]]===
4th Year

===[[User:bbl5660|Brian Long]]===
4th Year
Medium T-Shirt Size

===[[User:Echo35|Anthony Lubrani]]===
2nd Year

===[[User:jrgreen118|Jeremiah Green]]===
5th year <br>
Shirt Size: Extra Large

===[[User:wwdillingham|Wesley Dillingham]]===
5th year

==Photo Journalism==
===[[User:Jsang1|Jonathan Sanger]]===
1st year

==Networking==
===[[User:Classclownfish | Abbi Honeycutt]]===
1st year

Small?

===[[User:Epsilon748 | Anthony King -XL]]===
2nd year

===[[User:Sss1406 | Steven Schoenfeld]]===
4th Year NSSA Student

Shirt Size: Large

===[[User:Jfinney | Jameson Finney]]===
3rd year<br>
Medium

===[[User:dbj4366 | Dennis Jalbert]]===
5th year (Graduating after this quarter)<br />
Medium

==Software Engineering==
===[[User:Cdaniels29 | Chris Daniels]]===
5th Year
Medium

===[[User:Dpk3062 | Doug Krofcheck]]===
5th Year

Shirt Size: Large

User:EricMallon

2009-11-30T14:43:21Z

EricMallon: Blanked the page

Sugar Summer Program/Massachusetts Field Trip

2009-07-15T21:31:29Z

EricMallon: /* Participants */

<noinclude>{{GoogleTrans-en}}{{TeamHeader|Sugar Summer Program|xbgColor=ffe792|roadmap_link=Ideas|roadmap_label=Ideas}}</noinclude>

We are planning a field trip to Massachusetts to visit some technology sites and learn and work with people there.

This page is a collaborative planning site for this trip.

==Rough Schedule==
# Leave Rochester on 10 August for the Boston area to collect or meet up with Eric, Tyler, Dave and stay in a youth hostel, [http://bostonhostel.org/about.shtml Hostelling International-Boston].
# Work in Boston area
## Gardner Academy
## Sugar Camp sessions
### How to interact with Community
### Affordances we can provide for new developers and contributors
### School Server deployment and development issues (I've invited Dave Bauer to join us, if he can come, a School Server track would be very valuable for all.)
# Tour in the Boston area
## MIT Media Lab
## Computer History Museum
# Return to Rochester 16/17 August
# 17-18 August RIT visits

* Dave Farning could make (perhaps less expensive roundtrip) flights to & from Rochester or fly to Boston and return with us to Rochester to stay with me for a couple of days to visit RIT and meet the available faculty.
* Rochester area folks would take a 1 or 2 cars (depending on the number joining from Rochester) to either Stratham, NH or New Bedford, MA to pick up Eric or Tyler (depending on where they are), and proceed to hostel site.
* Adam Holt may drive back with us to Rochester.

Please add more specific suggestions.

Hoping others can offer some suggestions and support.

===Participants===
* Frederick Grose, Rochester, 10 - 18 August, room for 3 others at my house in Rochester, room for 3 others in my car.
* David Farning, Wisconsin, , room with Fred in Rochester
* Wesley Dillingham, Rochester,
* Tyler Bragdon,
* Karlie Robinson, Rochester, One room to share at her house near RIT (must not mind kids and dogs), car we can use for travel to Boston
* Eric Mallon

==Background==

We were planning to take a field trip to Boston, MA this summer with our Sugar Summer Co-ops, to visit some of the technology destinations and preferably overlap with some Sugar Labs or OLPC project or event. Today, Walter mentioned that he would be more free after the first week of August. Right now I'm trying to narrow down on some dates. Perhaps we could arrange to provide ourselves as work resources for several days to one of Caroline's projects, overlap with the ¿Worcester meeting?, or something else yet to come to mind. We called this idea a 'work & tour' party or crew.

* The remote co-ops have not had the opportunity for an "around the summer campfire" experience, and this would be a big goal for the trip for all the rest of us too. We want to include you in that because no one in Rochester has any Sugar Labs or OLPC event experience (and I think you would have some good stories and thinking to share).

There are a couple of awkward issues though:
* Hotel rooms wouldn't be the right lodging for a summer campfire. We need to solicit in-home hosting 1 or 2 co-ops per home (although I'd be happy to bring a tent, and camp in the yard somewhere to keep us close together [Wesley is a camper]). Perhaps Adam can suggest some options.
* Project teams may be uncertain of the benefits of "hosting" a short-term 'work & tour' party or crew in a project that is still forming a stable base. It may not be a good idea and turn out to be a distraction because it's hard to define expectations. Not knowing what practical service or resource we could provide in a few days of service, makes it hard to generate interest. We would look at it like campground trail maintenance or kitchen patrol--an indirect learning and load-sharing opportunity. Again, maybe Adam or others familiar with the Massachusetts-area (or north east) projects could help match us to an opportunity.

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T18:59:05Z

EricMallon: /* Project Description */

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

While the code and cards are complete, we cannot get the resources of the cards to correctly load at this time, so it does not load correctly on the XO.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.
'''[[Fun Tower Level Select | Fun Tower Level Select Code Description]]'''

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

If you have any questions about the project, email Tyler Bragdon at eldrac@gmail.com

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Files==
* Game File (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Teacher Documentation (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/FunTowersTeacher.doc)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers Original XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Original Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Fun Tower Level Select

2009-05-18T18:51:58Z

EricMallon: New page: The core of the level selection is the cardColors Class method. Methods in Smalltalk (and the dialect used by Squeak) can belong to either the class or the instance of that class. The ne...

The core of the level selection is the cardColors Class method. Methods in Smalltalk (and the dialect used by Squeak) can belong to either the class or the instance of that class. The new cardColors is now an instance method instead of a class since the method (class methods are only received from the class and not the instance so for our instance of the game to interact with this we needed to move it). The method now looks like:

cardColors
"possible card colors -- modified by RIT Funtowers Team to use levels"
| returnVal level |
level := (self selectedLevel) + 1. "not zero based indexing"

(level = -1)
ifTrue: [returnVal := FtGame levels atRandom]
ifFalse: [returnVal := FtGame levels at: level].

^ returnVal

It uses an instance variable selectedLevel to select the level to use. The levels are captured in a class method called levels. How the images are loaded was not changed, so unless we change that chunk of code we'll have to adopt the file naming conventions for the existing images. I set it up to use the existing cards.

levels
^ OrderedCollection
withAll: #(
#('fire' 'fire' 'fire' 'fire')
#('water' 'water' 'water' 'water')
#('air' 'air' 'air' 'air')
#('ground' 'ground' 'ground' 'ground')).

To go along with this levels collection there is a corresponding levelsDescription, which provides the string the UI label uses. I just used the same string as the file name (fire, water, air, ...) but it could be completely different. It'll probably be something like #('thirds' thirds' thirds' thirds') #('fourths' 'fourths' 'fourths' 'fourths') ... for the new images.

levelDescriptions
"a parallel collection with descriptions for each element of FtGame level"
^ OrderedCollection
withAll: #(
'fire'
'water'
'air'
'ground').

The event handling methods for the two buttons call the selectedLevel method from FtGame which sets the selectedLevel to whatever the user passed in modulo how many different levels there are. Since collections in Smalltalk are 1 based, this number gets a + 1 when it is used. This method also changes the text label by looking up the appropriate string from levelDescriptions using the same selectedLevel index.

selectedLevel: selectedLevelValue
"sets the currently selected level and updates UI"

selectedLevel := selectedLevelValue \\ (FtGame levelCount).
self levelLabel contents: (FtGame levelDescriptions at: (selectedLevel + 1)).

The FtGame initialize method also changed so that the new UI morphs were added. There were also some minor changes to make sure the existing code used the right cards so some "FtGame cards" statements were changed to "self cards." For example in the cards method you should see "result := Array new: (self cardColors size * FtGame cardValues size)" before cardColors was a class method and had FtGame as the sender instead of self.

initialize

super initialize.

self levelLabel:
(StringMorph new
extent: 50@150;
contents: 'Test').

self selectedLevel: -1.

self initSubmorphs;
newForm: self background;
posSubmorphs;
addCardsToDrawStack;
gameIsRunning: false.

"position level selection morphs -- offset stuff from the score button"

self levelLabel
position: self scoreCounter position + (25@-20).
self leftLevelButton
position: self scoreCounter position + (0@-20).
self rightLevelButton
position: self scoreCounter position + (80@-20).

self addMorph: levelLabel.

The last thing I wanted to point out was the hack I added to FtGameLeftButton and FtGameRightButton. I made these two buttons classes but I'm not sure they need to be separate. Any way, I added a method that allows for the FtGame reference variable to be set so the button event handler can talk to the game.

newFtGame: ftGameInst
ftGame := ftGameInst.

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T18:51:06Z

EricMallon: /* Completed Modifications */

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.
'''[[Fun Tower Level Select | Fun Tower Level Select Code Description]]'''

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

If you have any questions about the project, email Tyler Bragdon at eldrac@gmail.com

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Files==
* Game File (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Teacher Documentation (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/FunTowersTeacher.doc)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers Original XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Original Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:57:26Z

EricMallon: /* Future Plans */

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

If you have any questions about the project, email Tyler Bragdon at eldrac@gmail.com

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Files==
* Game File (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Teacher Documentation (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/FunTowersTeacher.doc)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers Original XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Original Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:52:24Z

EricMallon:

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Files==
* Game File (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Teacher Documentation (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/FunTowersTeacher.doc)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers Original XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Original Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:51:41Z

EricMallon:

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Files==
* Game File (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Teacher Documentation (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/FunTowersTeacher.doc)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers Original XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Original Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:45:10Z

EricMallon: /* How To Play */

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

==How To Play==
* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have. 8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.

* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:42:34Z

EricMallon: /* Proposed Domains */

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Implemented Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

==How To Play==

* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have.
8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.
* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed.
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:42:03Z

EricMallon:

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education. At this point we consider the game 'done' for all practical purposes, and it is now a viable option to help teach 4th grade math on the XO laptop.

==Proposed Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Future Plans==
The original team working on the math4 modification of this game considers it complete. The game is now a viable teaching tool, with several different standards being addressed. Although we are done with our planned work, and will not continue working on the game, there are several potential future modifications that we have thought of that anyone interested is more then welcome to add to the game:

*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore]) to output time it takes for student to finish level
*Addressing more standards, or standards of a different education system (Current standards are all Massachusetts based)

==How To Play==

* You have one card of your own; your goal is to remove all the cards from the towers
* You can remove a face-up card from the towers if it is one unit up or down from the card you have.
8 Units of change vary between levels, each level corresponds to a math4 standard. The standard unit is 1, so a card displaying the number 6 allows you to remove a card with a 5 or a 7 from the towers. Another example of a unit is 1/4, so if you have 2 1/2, you can remove 2 1/4 or 2 3/4's.
* If you click on a card in the tower to remove it, and it is a valid removal (one unit up/down) then that card becomes your new card, displayed to the right of the deck.
* At any time, the student can click on the deck to receive a new card.
* The game is won when all cards from all 3 of the towers have been removed.
* To switch levels, click the scroll buttons in the bottom left of the screen until the desired level is displayed. Hit the start button to switch to the new level.

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/FunTowers/Cards.zip)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-18T17:18:51Z

EricMallon:

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

We have completed the initial proposed modifications to the game to make it applicable to 4th grade math education.

==Proposed Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

==Completed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game. Fourth grade students will learn better when not rushed by a timer. The timer is still in game, to give a sort of metric for how quickly the student completes it, but there is no penalty for running out of time.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards contains over twenty math related levels.

*Implement level select: The player can use a simple level selector to switch between all the levels.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic, each topic contained within a different tower.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API (potentially using [http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008 SoapCore])

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* An Introduction to Morphic: The Squeak User Interface Framework (http://stephane.ducasse.free.fr/FreeBooks/CollectiveNBlueBook/morphic.final.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)
* EToys image download (http://etoys.laptop.org/src/etoys-image-and-pr.zip)
* SoapCore Squeak SOAP client (http://map.squeak.org/package/dab9b621-00d2-41c3-966c-458bf62b8008)
* Modified Game Card files (http://www.cs.rit.edu/~gtb2909/funtowers/cards.zip)

==Project Setup==
PC:

First download and extract the Etoys image zip file, next download the squeak executable from the squeak download page and place squeak.exe in the folder with the Etoys image file. Next download the game source file (.sar) - run squeak.exe, and drag and drop the .sar file into the Etoys window, selecting the "Install SAR" option. Click the "Make a Project" button to get to a blank screen, then press Alt+, to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the Etoys environment.

XO:

Using the browse program on the XO, simply download the XO game download from the link above and it automatically installs.

==Accessing Game Code==
With the game loaded into the etoys environment on either the XO or PC, again hit Alt + , to bring up the main menu. Select the last option to "edit this menu". In the window that pops up, press the small browse button in the middle left to bring up the system browser. In the left column of the system browser, scroll down and select Funtowers-Game, in the other columns you can now select and browse all the game code.

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects

2009-05-01T14:40:51Z

EricMallon:

{{TOCright}}
==[[Flash Card Game - Assimilate]]==
==[[Fun Towers]]==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.
Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.
The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

Group members are
[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon,]] [[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon,]] [[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==[[Lemonade Stand]]==
Lemonade stand (or more likely, *Insert produce here* stand) is a collaboration project at RIT. It is designed to test children on fractions, working with money, estimation and other math topics. While our time restraints limit the extent to which we can implement features, the current goal is a feature complete program, if lacking in graphics. We plan on having a system based on buying and selling commodities and an eventual season based economy.

The largest and most complex task of the project will be the introduction of a basic AI to handle the economy, the use of graphics, and of course, localization. We are planning on introducing the game with a generic currency model while trying to find a commodity that either works worldwide, or is easy to replace for regional types. At the very least, we plan on having a feature complete text model that can be finished by other interested parties.

The RIT currently working on the project are [[Anthony King]], [[User:Qalthos|Nathaniel Case]], [[User:Jsang1|Jonathan Sanger]], [[User:Mdd8919 | Mitchell DeMarco]], [[User:sss1406|Steven Schoenfeld]], and [[User:Echo35|Anthony Lubriani]].

==[[Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Muthris|Muthris]]==
==[[Produce Puzzle]]==
The object of the game is to solve a system of equations with unknowns represented by fruits. The player is given the column sums and row sums, and from there he must determine the value of each fruit. The game difficulty can be changed, and it ranges from solving 3x3 fruit equations, all the way up to 9x9 fruit grids.

We, [[Abbi Honeycutt]] and [[Kennedy Kong]] from Rochester Institute of Technology, has taken over this project. Previous creators were Matthew Michihara, Elizabeth Deng, and Aaron Macris from University of Southern California during their "Code for a cause OLPC Hack-a-thon".
==[[/Question Support API|Question Support API]]==
==[[Teacher Reporting]]==

==[[Tips & Tricks]]==
==[[Complaints & Problems]]==

[[Category:Idea]]

Math4Team/RIT/Projects

2009-05-01T14:39:34Z

EricMallon:

{{TOCright}}
==[[Flash Card Game - Assimilate]]==
==[[Fun Towers]]==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.
Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.
The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

Group members are
[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]] [[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]] [[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==[[Lemonade Stand]]==
Lemonade stand (or more likely, *Insert produce here* stand) is a collaboration project at RIT. It is designed to test children on fractions, working with money, estimation and other math topics. While our time restraints limit the extent to which we can implement features, the current goal is a feature complete program, if lacking in graphics. We plan on having a system based on buying and selling commodities and an eventual season based economy.

The largest and most complex task of the project will be the introduction of a basic AI to handle the economy, the use of graphics, and of course, localization. We are planning on introducing the game with a generic currency model while trying to find a commodity that either works worldwide, or is easy to replace for regional types. At the very least, we plan on having a feature complete text model that can be finished by other interested parties.

The RIT currently working on the project are [[Anthony King]], [[User:Qalthos|Nathaniel Case]], [[User:Jsang1|Jonathan Sanger]], [[User:Mdd8919 | Mitchell DeMarco]], [[User:sss1406|Steven Schoenfeld]], and [[User:Echo35|Anthony Lubriani]].

==[[Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Muthris|Muthris]]==
==[[Produce Puzzle]]==
The object of the game is to solve a system of equations with unknowns represented by fruits. The player is given the column sums and row sums, and from there he must determine the value of each fruit. The game difficulty can be changed, and it ranges from solving 3x3 fruit equations, all the way up to 9x9 fruit grids.

We, [[Abbi Honeycutt]] and [[Kennedy Kong]] from Rochester Institute of Technology, has taken over this project. Previous creators were Matthew Michihara, Elizabeth Deng, and Aaron Macris from University of Southern California during their "Code for a cause OLPC Hack-a-thon".
==[[/Question Support API|Question Support API]]==
==[[Teacher Reporting]]==

==[[Tips & Tricks]]==
==[[Complaints & Problems]]==

[[Category:Idea]]

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T14:04:27Z

EricMallon:

[[Image:FTscreenshot.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The initial version of fun towers]]
==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*4.N.4: Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*4.N.1: Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*4.N.2: Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*4.N.5: Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*4.N.11: Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*4.N.16: Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*4.N.18: Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*4.P.1: Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*4.P.3: Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*4.M.2: Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)
* Squeak Download (http://www.squeak.org/Download/)

==Project Setup==
Download from the squeak download page both the squeak executable for your operating system as well as the squeak image file. Download the Fun Towers game source. Run the squeak executable with the image in the same directory to open squeak. Drag the fun towers .sar file onto the squeak environment to load the game into squeak. Left click in the squeak environment to bring up the main menu and click 'new morph', go to from alphabetical list, D-F, and click on FtGame. The game is now loaded in the squeak environment.

==Updates==
4/17 - Initial project start, creation of wiki page, general planning.

4/24 - Updated Wiki page, removed timer loss from game source, implemented rudimentary deck increase (prevents losing)

4/28 - Worked on updating card graphics

4/29 - Second attempt at deck increase in squeak code, could not a better version then the initial. Initial attempts at adding a level select. Initial prototypes for 4th grade math topic cards produced

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule - Complete
*Game Prototype - Complete

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels - Complete
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game - Complete

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels - Prototypes Complete
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T07:12:43Z

EricMallon: /* Updates */

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T07:12:21Z

EricMallon: /* Weekly Schedule */

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T05:16:03Z

EricMallon: /* Weekly Schedule */

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)

==Updates==
4/17 - Initial project start, creation of wiki page, general planning.

4/24 - Updated Wiki page, removed timer loss from game source, implemented rudimentary deck increase (prevents losing)

4/28 - Worked on updating card graphics

4/29 - Second attempt at deck increase in squeak code, could not a better version then the initial. Initial attempts at adding a level select.

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule - Complete
*Game Prototype - Complete

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels - Complete
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game - Complete

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T05:05:10Z

EricMallon: /* Updates */

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)

==Updates==
4/17 - Initial project start, creation of wiki page, general planning.

4/24 - Updated Wiki page, removed timer loss from game source, implemented rudimentary deck increase (prevents losing)

4/28 - Worked on updating card graphics

4/29 - Second attempt at deck increase in squeak code, could not a better version then the initial. Initial attempts at adding a level select.

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-05-01T05:04:52Z

EricMallon:

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)

==Updates==
4/17 - Initial project start, creation of wiki page, general planning.
4/24 - Updated Wiki page, removed timer loss from game source, implemented rudimentary deck increase (prevents losing)
4/28 - Worked on updating card graphics
4/29 - Second attempt at deck increase in squeak code, could not a better version then the initial. Initial attempts at adding a level select.

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-24T15:43:05Z

EricMallon:

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

==Contacts==
Math4 mod team
*Eric Mallon (EricMallon@gmail.com)
*Tyler Bragdon (eldrac@gmail.com)
*Chris Daniels (chris.m.daniels@gmail.com)

Original authors:
Thomas Beyhl, Johannes Dyck, Robert Gurol, Maximilian Jenders, Johannes Köhler, Matthias Richly, and Marcus Wacke at http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/swa/

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-24T15:36:42Z

EricMallon: /* Project Resources */

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Project Resources==
* Fun Towers XO Game Download (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_080601.xo)
* Fun Towers Game Source (http://www.hpi.uni-potsdam.de/hirschfeld/projects/olpc/media/Funtowers_OLPC_080121.sar)
* Squeak by Example (http://www.iam.unibe.ch/~scg/SBE/SBE.pdf)

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-24T14:10:51Z

EricMallon: /* Possible Future Modifications */

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.
*Description of tasks to be performed per level, localized.
*Integrate teacher reporting API

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-24T14:09:14Z

EricMallon:

==Group Members==
*[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]
*[[User:eldrac|Tyler Bragdon]]
*[[User:Cdaniels29|Chris Daniels]]

==Project Description==
Fun Towers is a pre-existing game that can be found online in several version (http://www.funnytowers.com/ is one example) that has been ported to the XO, written in Squeak. Our team is modifying this purely numerical/card based game into one that can be used as a teaching tool as part of the 4th grade math project.

Our initial goals in modifying the pre-existing game remain relatively simple and achievable, and our goal is to produce verifiable results that can be used to point to the very preliminary success of the math4 program, while more in-depth projects are still in development.

The game itself is simple, users are given a card and with it are able to remove from one of 3 pyramids of cards a card that is one greater or one lower in value. This card that has been removed is the users new card, and any cards that were covered by the removed card are now in play.

==Proposed Domains==

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Exhibit an understanding of the base ten number system by reading, modeling, writing, and interpreting whole numbers to at least 100,000; demonstrating an understanding of the values of the digits; and comparin and ordering the numbers.

*Represent, order, and compare large numbers (to at least 100,000) using various forms, including expanded notation, e.g., 853 = 8 x 100 + 5 x 10 + 3.

*Select, use, and explain models to relate common fractions and mixed numbers (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/5, 1/6, 1/8, 1/10, 1/12, and 11/2), find equivalent fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals, and order fractions.

*Identify and generate equivalent forms of common decimals and fractions less than one whole (halves, quarters, fifths, and tenths).

*Know multiplication facts through 12 x 12 and related division facts. Use these facts to solve related multiplication problems and compute related problems, e.g., 3 x 5 is related to 30 x 50, 300 x 5, and 30 x 500.

*Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

*Use concrete objects and visual models to add and subtract common fractions.

*Create, describe, extend, and explain symbolic (geometric) and numeric patterns, including multiplication patterns like 3, 30, 300, 3000, ….

*Determine values of variables in simple equations, e.g., 4106 – x = 37, 5 = y + 3, and s – y = 3.

*Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

==Initial Proposed Modifications==
*Remove Timer: Though most versions of the Fun Towers game include some sort of timer, it would not be as applicable in an educational version of the game.

*Change card graphics: The game currently only supports cards which are integers from 1~13, new cards will need to be created which represent the elements of the mathematical series which we plan to implement.

*Implement level select: The player will need a way to chose which type of mathematical series they work with.

==Possible Future Modifications==
*Multi-player support: Allow players to work together to take down the towers, potentially allowing students of different skill levels to work together, by having each student working with a different topic.

==Weekly Schedule==
Week 6:
*Develop Schedule
*Game Prototype

Week 7:
*Finalize 4th grade math domains for levels
*Begin learning/working with code from open source fun towers game

Week 8:
*Produce modified cards for additional levels
*Initial integration of 4th grade math topics

Week 9:
*Implement in-game level selector
*Implement level transition

Week 10:
*Potential API integration
*General Polish

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-24T04:17:15Z

EricMallon:

User:EricMallon

2009-04-24T04:15:54Z

EricMallon:

I am a 3rd year Computer Science student at RIT. I have some background in Python, as well as general use languages such as Java, C++ and perl.

I am interested in working on a simple game for the 4th grade math project. My initial focus is working on a 'Fun Towers' (Can be found online in several flash forms) game, where users attempt to delete from a pyramid cards representing math facts that correspond to an answer card that the user is given.

This project would be easily adaptable to several disciplines for teaching 4th grade math, some of the more suited ones are;

- Add and subtract (up to five-digit numbers) and multiply (up to three digits by two digits) accurately and efficiently.

- Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.

- Divide up to a three-digit whole number with a single-digit divisor (with or without remainders) accurately and efficiently. Interpret any remainders.

- Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

email: ericmallon@gmail.com

Fun Towers wiki page link: http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Fun_Towers

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-22T05:24:23Z

EricMallon:

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-22T02:20:15Z

EricMallon:

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-22T02:19:08Z

EricMallon:

Math4Team/RIT/Projects/Fun Towers

2009-04-22T01:11:20Z

EricMallon:

User:EricMallon

2009-04-06T20:55:43Z

EricMallon:

User:EricMallon

2009-04-03T05:24:39Z

EricMallon:

User:EricMallon

2009-04-03T05:24:20Z

EricMallon: New page: I am a 3rd year Computer Science student at RIT. I have some background in Python, as well as general use languages such as Java, C++ and perl. I am interested in working on a simple gam...

I am a 3rd year Computer Science student at RIT. I have some background in Python, as well as general use languages such as Java, C++ and perl.

I am interested in working on a simple game for the 4th grade math project. My initial focus is working on a 'Fun Towers' (Can be found online in several flash forms) game, where users attempt to delete from a pyramid cards representing math facts that correspond to an answer card that the user is given.

This project would be easily adaptable to several disciplines for teaching 4th grade math, some of the more suited ones are;
- Add and subtract (up to five-digit numbers) and multiply (up to three digits by two digits) accurately and efficiently.
- Round whole numbers through 100,000 to the nearest 10, 100, 1000, 10,000, and 100,000.
- Divide up to a three-digit whole number with a single-digit divisor (with or without remainders) accurately and efficiently. Interpret any remainders.
- Carry out simple unit conversions within a system of measurement, e.g., hours to minutes, cents to dollars, yards to feet or inches, etc.

Math4Team/RIT/Alumni/Spring-2009

2009-04-03T05:11:41Z

EricMallon: /* Computer Science */

{{TOCright}}
==Computer Engineering Technology==
===Kennedy Kong===
2nd Year
I am interested in having the other side touch pads running and integrate them with some kinda of software.
I am interested in also having a web cam program running, but that seems to be taken by an external team. I might collaborate with the webcam group.

==Computer Science==
===[[User:Mdd8919 | Mitchell DeMarco]]===
3rd Year

===[[User:Enimihil|Gregory Stevens]]===
5th Year (Graduating after this class)

===James Kolb===
4th Year (Double majoring in Math)

===Nathaniel Case===
3rd Year

===[[User:EricMallon|Eric Mallon]]===
3rd Year

==Information Technology==
===[[User:bjr9081|Brendan Reen]]===
4th Year

===[[User:bbl5660|Brian Long]]===
4th Year

==Photo Journalism==
===Jonathan Sanger===
1st year

==Networking==
===[[User:Classclownfish | Abbi Honeycutt]]===
1st year

===Anthony King===
2nd year
===Steven Schoenfeld===
4th year
===Jameson Finney===
3rd year
===[[User:dbj4366 | Dennis Jalbert]]===
5th year (Graduating after this quarter)

==Software Engineering==
===[[User:Cdaniels29 | Chris Daniels]]===
5th Year

===Doug Krofcheck===
5th Year