Grammar Gazette- Issue 1, 2006

More than $2 million is spent every day on electronic games and hardware in Australia. Interactive gaming is the fastest growing segment of the entertainment industry and worth $50 billion per annum worldwide (Sydney Morning Herald, 2004). In Term I students investigated two core topics, games programming and 2D animation. The students were introduced to the theory behind game design including game genres and history. After forming their design groups, they commenced game exploration and developed skills in animation, object-oriented programming concepts, soundtrack creation and game design. The design challenge was to collaboratively plan and develop an interactive educational game for pre-school aged children. In Year 12 ITS students are developing interactive games designed to help pre-schoolers with numeracy and literacy skills . Playing the Game

Term II, each design group will test and assess their games at a local children’s facility. The interactive games focused on early literacy and numeracy skills. “The current assignment involves girls exploring their imaginations to create an engaging interactive game. The challenge is, however, to ensure the design will be appropriately captivating for pre-school children. As a client-based project, it’s also effective in preparing us for dealing with real industry situations. By allowing us to eventually work with the children to test our games, we are given a realistic goal to work towards. In my opinion, this assignment is very relevant and as engaging as it is challenging.” (Melinda Ranson,12R)

Web page designs by ITS students.

Real World Challenges Mr Brendon Thomas reports on the introduction of Information Technology Systems (ITS), a new senior subject that brings real world challenges and external professional expertise into the classroom.

Winning Web Design

Students from sixty-one schools entered Griffith University’s 2005 Digital Design Challenge. Sherlyn Hii won the competition with her outstanding design for two linked web pages promoting the 2006 Commonwealth Games. When I heard that Brisbane Girls Grammar was looking for IT students to enter in the Digital Design Challenge, I was eager to put my skills to the test. Mr Thomas nominated me for the Open Web Design division. I was given two hours to design and create two linked web pages for the 2006 Melbourne From traffic lights to car manufacture to satellites orbiting the earth, robots are everywhere. Robotics engineering provides Year 10 girls with opportunities to build and program robotic devices using Lego Dacta and Robolab software. Students work in pairs to identify challenges then generate solutions. The design and programming components of robotic-based projects promotes integrated learning. Robotics engineering is a highly successful and motivating topic because it capitalises on the girls’ passion to empower, create and build. Our Robotics Unit focused on programming structures, the impact

XVIII Commonwealth Games. The judges were looking for a web site that reflected the spirit of the Games, sportsmanship, unity and diversity. I wanted the web site to look professional and artistic. I certainly didn’t expect to win but the judges had liked my idea of combining the existing branding of the Games with my own artistic edge. It’s amazing what you can create using the Adobe and Macromedia suite with just some creativity and experimentation, the possibilities are just endless. (Sherlyn Hii 11W) of robotics in today’s society, “smart” machines and “smart” programming. Each design challenge increased with difficulty and the girls commenced the topic on a steep learning curve. At times some of them doubted that they would reach the core learning requirements but group members encouraged each other to generate solutions. With collaborative peer problem solving and teacher support, motivation and skill levels increased as each group endeavoured to complete complex tasks. “It was a wonderful experience – challenging, rewarding and thoroughly enjoyable. Experimenting with the laws and physics of robotics, we controlled the robot’s actions and movements. It required problem solving, group work and positive attitude to succeed.” (Elle Laing,10E)

provided authentic and valuable models for the students as they embarked on their own design projects. Our visiting experts shared their approaches by outlining strategies for securing and maintaining business, emphasising the value of their own reputation and integrity as they worked with their clients. Working from their client’s design brief, students engaged in the design, development and reflective evaluation of a web site. They were challenged with managing a meeting schedule to provide advice, collate needs, seek approval, document a design process, obtain client feedback and finally propose a viable solution. This demanded that students exercise self-discipline as they communicated, co-operated and collaborated with their respective clients. Furthermore, each girl had to reflect upon and evaluate her product, ensuring that her ideation process mirrored the client brief rather than her own construct. Some students found this process particularly challenging because the client wanted a simple web site, without the flashy

ITS is not only about technology; it’s about people. The aim is for students to develop skills and apply them to the genuine needs of real world clients. This subject is the only Queensland Studies Authority course which embeds modules towards the attainment of a full Certificate III in Information Technology

(Multimedia) and, concurrently, provides credit towards an OP. The swiftly expanding nature of information technology and new

Robotics Engineering

animated design so loved by those with the technical expertise. Sometimes working with a minimalist approach is the hardest methodology of all. The ITS coursework provides a curriculum where the daily learning environment encourages risk-taking, novel solutions, envisioning new possibilities and making connections. It is refreshing and professionally exciting to teach a subject where students must use alternate pathways to resolve authentic problems with creativity and flair and where the real work of the IT industry is integrated with classroom teaching and an innovative online and virtual teaching environment.

media requires that industry experts are integral to the learning experiences of the students in this course. In Semester 1, six guest facilitators shared their expertise and enthusiasm on topics ranging from information and database design, web development, research, advertising and marketing to graphic design and IT administration. For example, Ms Jennifer Blum, Creative Director with Urban Ideas, displayed two recent design projects which captured the attention of the girls. Her animated, interactive instruction manual for a new Nike watch along with a promotional advertising campaign for Motorola

06 grammar gazette : may 2006

grammar gazette : may 2006 07