Arlette F. 5 2011

Gamers Solve Scientific Problems


How did gamers use the computer game Foldit to solve the protein folding mystery?
They untangled a structure of a protein that was able to be used to eliminate the AIDS virus in humans.


Who can participate in this problem solving and be a player in Foldit?
Any gamer can participate. They don't have to have an experienced background or anything like that because this game already causes them to mystify today's gaming nature. That's how easy it is.


What can critical thinking do for Science?
Searching and finding out what this game does is helping researchers find new unknown things that can actually help combat HIV in our lives. It's also helping them being against Antiretrovial Drugs.


If you could solve a mystery through gaming for any kind of disease or illnes in the world, what would it be?
I would probably literally solve a mystery for Diabetes through gaming because it would be interesting and awkward to see what and how it is involved through the gaming system.

Arlette F. 4 2011

Mini Game


Was it hard to make your mini game?
At the beginning of the lesson I thought it was going to be difficult but once I went back to the "make a mini game"section, I was convinced about it. I knew how to make this. I had done it for 2 years already. There was no way I wasn't able to do this.


What was the best part of this topic?
The best part of this topic was when I had to create my own background. I'm very creative and enjoy seeing things visually artistic. Drawing my road. 


The Worst Part?
There wasn't really any bad part for me. The sort of difficult problem was knowing in where to out the code and making sure all was correct. 

Arlette F. 3 2011

9/11


How old were you on September 11, 2001? 
The day of September 11, 2001 I was 3 years old, 3 months away from turning 4 years old. 




When did you first learn about the attacks and who explained the events to you? 
I had never ever heard about the 9/11 attack until 4th grade. That is when I bearly found out about it. My 4th grade teacher explained to our class how everything had occurred. I was shocked and couldn't believe it. 




What kind of impact did these attacks have on your life or your parents lives? 
It actually had no effect in my life. I actually think it did cause effect in my parent's lives because they say that their economy went down and that is something very hurtful to them and our nation.




What was the issue with this game?
- The issue with this game is that it makes players feel powerless, the way it makes them feel. It suppose to make us feel better but it's  doing the opposite. 


How do you feel about it?
- I'm not blaming it or anything but I do think it's non-respective because it is something that affected us, it would be like making fun of our Country. I don't agree with it.


What is the problem with the portraying on such an awful violent event through a video game?
- The problem is that they have no respect for our country= America. It's just not right. It's wrong and they shouldn't do it because they wouldn't like it if we did the same for something else.


How can you make sure that your web games tell the whole story or teach a lesson in an honorable way?
-I can make sure it doesn't by taking in consideration people's opinions, not just my thoughts but others too. Knowing what is right and what is bad.

2 Single Story 2011

"Danger of a Single Story"

1. What does it mean to have a 'single story' about a place or community?

To have a single story about a place or community means to have or provide you're own information about a something. For example you might have an idea of how a place is because of all the media you've seen before and it turns out that when it comes to reality, it isn't what you thought of. It's all different from what you expected to see. It's an exact part of stereotypes. A Stereotype is a widely held explanation or idea about a person place or thing.

1. Describe a single story you have heard told about your community. What is missing from that story? How could people learn more about that community?

I actually haven't been told about a "Single Story" about my Community or a place. In my community there is thought of many things. I've been asked so many times: Do you like living here? and I respond: it might not be the best but I do enjoy living here. They think of my community as an old Mexican black community, where they drink, steal, fight and sell drugs. People think that just by giving it one look it says it all but they are wrong. For ex. Let's say I went to visit a friend in California and she thought I wasn't going to visit because of our differences= she was rich and I was poor. Just because I wasn't as high as her doesn't mean I wasn't able to take a flight and stay at a fancy hotel. Like I said again: "One look doesn't say it all". What this single story is missing is they reality there actually is. My community isn't what it's been stereotyped, it might be old but not of any other, yes they are blacks and Mexicans. "With one scant peek the mouth opens" In real life we are all kind to each other, we share, we care for the children and we all live united in our own beautiful way. People can learn better from my community by actually realizing how it is. Giving it a visit, living there and give it more than one look to know it ALL, NOT JUST A "SINGLE STORY".

1. Describe a single story you have heard about another community. How did you learn that story? How could you find out more about that community? A single story I've heard before is about The West side of Austin which is said that they are rich and the rest isn't as far. I learned this story by many different people. Since my mom works on that side of town, she definitely can recognize it. I can find out more about this community by visiting them, making some friendship. Try to see what the west side of Austin really is. Ask them what they think about how people think of them. What is their response.

1. How could a game let players experience many stories about a place or community?

A game can definitely let players experience many stories about a place or community by showing them what people really are and letting them know what they are not, ask many questions in there. The questions will help them understand life better they way it really is because now a days kids are used to the media worldwide and it's like the only thing they can count on. They might think that the internet is always right but it's not. What the media shows might not be what you think it is. Including all of this in a game can work out for kids in many ways. That way they can relate to their own "Single Story".

• Picture retrieved from: http://www.brainbasedbusiness.com/2006/10/looking_to_reduce_prejudice_at.html

2 Cyberbully 2011

- "Cyberbully" The Movie

Review/Questions: 1

• How does the main character feel about using "Clicksters" in the beginning of the film? -The main character which is Taylor feels great about using Clicksters. She's new so she doesn't imagine anything going wrong but she is curious about some privacy questions.
• What is her family situation? -Her parents are divorced. She only has 1 brother. Her mother is raising them by herself. Parents don't really have time for them, they kind of work a lot. They don't have such a good communication with each other.
• What type of friendship does she have? -I wouldn't say she has the best friendship but she has some really good friends. They hang out with her, they support her for now.
• When does the Cyberbullying begin? -The Cyberbullying begins when her brother purposely posts something unwated in Taylor's Clicksters page. Right after that they start bullying her.

Review/Questions:2

• What is the result of the Cyberbullying that Taylor experiences? -The result turns out to be horrifying that it leads her to committing suicide. Many people are bullying her. One of her bestfriends even impersonate a guy she liked. It gets worse every day. It makes a change in her life and world of everyday's lives.
• What type of Cyberbullying does Taylor experience? - She experiences a terrible time with Cyberbullying. The experience she's gotten has risen her to lead.
• What would you do if you were in Taylor's shoes? -If I was in Taylor's shoes I wouldn't have been suffering like her. I would have never replied to those mean comments or people. First I would delete my account and ignore it like it never happened. After that I would make a difference in our World to stop any type of Bullying.

Review/Questions: 3

• How does Taylor react to the mean comments people keep posting about her? -Her reaction is powerful, she is furious about it and follows the game. Which means she does the same thing back to them.
• Does she ever try to stop people from posting insults? -She doesn't really try anything. She thinks that the only way to stop it is by fighthing back. She has not a bit of confidence and believes that she can't do anything about it.
• How do you think Taylor felt about her friends betraying her? -I think she felt agitated because they know what's happening to her and shouldn't friends be there for the bad moments and the outcome turns out to be that they won't be there for her.
• What kind of changes do you see Taylor experiences? -She experiences changes in her life and other's lives. She went trough it even though it was hard. She ended the battle but she still has the WAR to finish.

1 Cyberbully 2011

"This is my first Blog post of the 2011 School Year"

What is A Cyberbully?

A Cyberbully can be anyone or anything. It is mainly a person through the internet disturbing others in a disrespectful way. They can harass and embarass you. It can be repeated. Identity can't be known and take it as Anonymous.

What are the different types of Cyberbullying?

• Gossip


• Personal Information


• Name Calling


• Impersonate


• And many other things

What should you do if you are being Cyberbullied?

• Get the most possible away from them


• Get an Adult to help you


• Do not open messages from a cyberbullying


• Forward e-mails to an adult


• Report Spam


• Report User


• Contact a WebMaster


• Delete from you're account

What are some reasons that people Cyberbully others?

Some of the reasons are:

• They want to feel powerful


• They don't feel good- something wrong can be going on with them


• They probably have been through the same problem and are doing revenge by doing it to other people.

Arlette F. 13 2011

"Winding Down"

What is your team name?
My teams name is: The Pinkiies

What is the name of your game?
The name of my game is called: Animals & Their Habitats

What is it about?
My game is about spreading the word to people about saving and helping out the endangered species around our whole world. They may have some resources that are useful to us, the same way they might help us, the reason why we should give them a hand.


What scenes have you completed?
So far we've completed every scene but its just that there's minimum problems that are still causing trouble. We are working on them.

What parts of your team page are completed?
Almost every part of our team page has been completed, I don't think there's something missing.

How much more work do you need to complete?
Were past half-way there, so we only have to go over the buttons and make sure they are being controlled.

What can you do from now until Friday to get everything finshed and turned in?
I can probably stay afterschool often to make sure that everything is working well and its not out of control. Try to finish it in class.

What grade would you give yourself in Globaloria overall?
From my perspective, I don't take myself as the best nor the least but I am definetly a hardworker. I like to get my work finished in time and show my best at all times. I would give myself a an 80-95.


What are all of the things you have learned this year?
There is many of things that I've learned this year that I can't even list but one of the most important things that I've learned is Adding Animation in Flash, Adding Buttons and actually making things work together.


What are you proud of in Globaloria?
I am very proud of my improvement of skills, last year I didn't really know a lot but this year I've learned much more.




How can you improve next year?