Cells in Minecraft

In this post I’ll be talking about cells and their various functions. A variety of cells exist in the human body from skin cells to blood cells, they maintain, protect and repair the body. This post will cover the chugach standards 9.4-9.5, which asks about cell process and functions of the cells organelles.

There are two major cell categories, these are Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes. Eukaryotic cells are found in multicelled organisms like humans or plants. Where as Prokaryotes are single celled organisms like bacteria. In this post I’ll be focusing on Eukaryotic cells.

Within the Eukaryotic category there are two general sub-categories: animals cells and plant cells. These cell are mainly separated by one difference, plant cells have a cell wall that differs from the animals cells cell membrane. This is the most easily seen difference between the two cell types.

Using humans as an example, we can see that there are hundreds of different types of cell that exist within the body, some example are blood cells, white blood cells, skin cells and brain cells. There’s a general structure that is consistent in all animal cells.

The general animal cell contains roughly 14 different organelle. These help the cell reproduce, store organic molecules and process the organic molecules into ATP (energy for the cell). Generally they function similar to a humans bodies organs, allowing them to survive and complete their specialized tasks.

These organelle are:

• Nucleolus
• Nucleus
• Ribosome
• Vesicle
• Rough endoplasmic reticulum
• Golgi apparatus
• Cytoskeleton
• Smooth endoplasmic reticulum
• Mitochondrion
• Vacuole
• Cytosol
• Lysosome
• Centrosome
• Cell membrane

What are cells general functions? Well I’ve determined that there are three main jobs that the cells do/can do. The first is the ability to let various organic molecules pass through their cell membrane to process the molecules and turn them into ATP for energy. This allows them to produce proteins to replace degrading or exported proteins and reproduce. Cells can also reproduce themselves by copying their DNA to two new cells creating an exponential growth pattern.

We’ll be using Minecraft in creative mode (You can check out my minecraft guide here) to create a semi-interactive model of a cell in Minecraft. Basically the students will learn about the structure, and functions of animal cells and even plant cell, if you’d like, and then convert that knowledge into a 2d model of a cell. As an example you can check this world save out of a plant cell.

• I’m going to start placing challenges for each task I give. So for this one
• Challenge one:
• Create a plant cell, animal cell and prokaryotic cell.
• Challenge two:
• Make the model 3d, heh, so basically check out real 3d models of cells and see if you can replicate it.
• Challenge Three
• Animate the ingame model with the functions of the cell.
• This isn’t an easy challenge and I couldn’t do it myself. I’d imagine that using redstone and some advanced game mechanics.
• A friends Minecraft creations, he has some tutorials but mostly look at his creations channel, their pretty informative. Here
• Redstone rules
• Wiki,
• youtube
• (Editors note: redstone is pretty complicated stuff to mess with considering the rest of the game’s mechanics are… simple. So this is a very hard task and would rate “super, super, advanced” in the rubric)

Also as a note, this project should be done with a group, especially building the Cell in minecraft.

Scoring guide for this project.

Tasks:	Emerging	Developing	Proficient	Advanced.
Minecraft Cell model	Model is missing several organelle and they were placed in the wrong areas of the cell.	Model has all of the organelle but a few or all are placed in the wrong position of the cell.	Model has all of the organelle for each cell type they’re all in the correct position and even labeled but are only in 2D.	The model has all of the correct organelle, they’re in the proper position and all are labeled. It is in 3D and scaled so you can walk through the cell and see each part of the cell as if you were on a tour.

Mendelian Inheritance in gaming.

This post marks the “official” start of my science based scenarios. We’ll be using Minecraft for this scenario with the mod Advanced Genetics. This will cover Chugach standards 9.6-9.9, which ask for the explanation of basic genetic principles: Mendelian, genetic errors, applied genetics, and how DNA relates to inheritance. Since we’ll be using Minecraft I’ve created a guide for installing Minecraft and Minecraft mods here.

Mendelian Inheritance is a genetic theory developed in 1865 and 1866 by Gregor Johann Mendel who initially derived three laws of inheritance. He experimented with pea plants, cross-breeding them to determine what traits passed down through their generations. After roughly 5000 trials he wrote two papers describing a limited yet initial scientific understanding of modern genetics. The three laws of inheritance are; the law of segregation, the law of independent assortment, and the law of dominance.

The law of segregation states that each parent carries two alleles per gene trait that are randomly chosen and passed down to the offspring. Meaning that both the sperm and egg carry one alleles and when those meet the offspring is united with both alleles. Meaning that the offspring receives one gene trait from both mother and father. The law of independent assortment states that each pair of alleles segregates separately of other alleles. Meaning that each gene trait chosen does correspond in anyway with other chosen gene traits. Alleles possess either dominant or recessive traits, if a trait possess a dominant type then it will override recessive traits, this is known as the law of dominance.

Going smaller, DNA is also important in inheritance. Since it’s the brain of each cell, holding the information needed to create life. DNA from both parents is split in half, giving the child one half from each parent making a similar DNA strand, but completely different. Of course as people progress through life their DNA copies itself onto each new cell that it replicates, copying itself eventually leads to a mistake. which is generally caused by an external environment and or just a mishap. Leading to a mutation in the DNA that can be harmful or beneficial for the subject- and passed down to future offspring.

Humans can also manipulate DNA through science, this process is called applied genetics. It’s used to create bacteria, modify viruses, adapt plants to new environments and even breed animals for certain qualities. This has been done for thousands of years through animal and plant breeding programs. We can now do this in the laboratory directly. Slowly, over time this progression has allowed for humans to strategically modify DNA to meet human needs.

This leads perfectly into Minecraft’s handy dandy Advanced Genetics Mod. The mod allows you to scrape skin scales off of any mob in game, giving that mobs certain skin scale. And once you bring those skin scales through the plethora of gene extracting and copying machines you can synthesize that mobs unique ability, like exploding, flying, more health, so on and so forth.

The players goal in game is to collect all of the skin scales and absorb their powers through using the newly added machines. However, to tie this into standards the players must research on Applied Genetics and understand how the machines ( which are simulated after real life machines) work in game. I’ve created an Advanced Genetics mod guide here. The guide goes into great detail on how to use each function of the Advanced Genetics mod and if that doesn’t answer your technical questions their wiki should, which can be found here. As a side note, I didn’t explain the mod here because I thought the post would grow too big and cumbersome. If you would rather me explain in here, just post in the comments below and I’ll see what I can do.

Advanced Genetics Minecraft mod guide.

First steps to install Advanced Genetics 1.57 for Minecraft 1.7.10:

• First head over to Forge’s main site
• Forge is the go-to modders resource and framework for users and modders alike.
• click on Installer-Win under the “1.7.10” latest Forge Installer:
• Once thats downloaded Double Click it. A installer should pop up, make sure that “install client is selected and then hit okay.

• Once it finishes installing, you should be good to go Forge wise. Now for the actual mod.
• Head here to download the mod.
• You should see this:

• DO NOT CLICK ANYTHING BUT “Skip Add” in the top right hand corner, it counts down from five, then click it.
• Once you download the installer you can doubleclick it and this cute little window will pop up

• I already have the mod installed, so it shows “re-install mod” but for you it should show “install” click that and bam the mod should start installing.
• Now once it’s finished start up your game and login. You should be met with something like this:

• Make sure that your profile looks like mine, I.E says “Forge”. Then you can click play,

• Once you’ve entered the main screen of your game you should see in the bottom left hand corner you should see:

• If you see this then you have successfully installed Advanced Genetics.
• Now hit single player and create a new world. Make sure to set the gamemode to creative by clicking the Gamemode button.

Now that we’re in game we can discuss the types of scenarios and game that you can employ the students to do. So the mod basics are pretty easy to grasp, you can check out a detailed guide here. Basically the process involves getting animal skin scales and going through decryption process and producing a “power-up cell” that gives the player certain abilities.

So my example scenario for this mod is straightforward and fun for the students. Their goal is to collect all of the available power ups through collecting skin scales cloning and combining cells. This will require the students to first understand how the mod works, through use of the wiki, and then learning how scientist in real life study, and modify cells.

Minecraft Educational Simulation installation and about guide.

Welcome to the first of many Minecraft educational simulations. The goal of these simulations is to give you, the teacher, a set challenges in Minecraft for your students to compete in and learn through participating in these challenges. The challenges are designed to educate through examples and student reflection, they will be hard, and will require complex problem solving that will satisfying various areas of science, complex problem solving and mathematical skills. Some good examples of the challenges will be: survival with limited food supply, semi-complex( to the best of my abilities, heh) puzzle solving using math and pattern recognition, building challenges(building in certain ways, and certain must have features).
                The setup of the simulations will be easy, all you'll have to do is download the Minecraft Simulation file from here(link), next you'll need to place that file into your Minecraft saves folder.

1. For windows:
1. To locate the saves folder go to start
2. then in the search box located at the bottom of the start menu type: "run"
3. A new window should pull up called run
1. seen here:
   
4. type in the highlighted "%appdata%" ass seen above and hit "ok".
5. a folder will open up with several more folders
6. You'll want to go through the folders and find a folder called ".minecraft"
1. seen here: 
   
2. Open up this folder
3. Once there you'll find minecrafts source files and important stuff, find the folder named saves and drag the downloaded folder into saves and BAM you're done. 
2. for mac(once again I have a PC so lol, this should be interesting in fact I'll just link a nice well done guide for you
1. Link

And bam you're done with installing, now you can enjoy the actually fruit of the simulation I made. As always  your friendly internet educational gamer Palacia signing out.

Scientific naming in gaming:

Identify the ways and need for scientific naming and how classification is structurally oriented

Binomial scientific nomenclature, is science's answer to giving organisms unique names, allowing scientists to discuss organisms without confusion of which one they’re discussing. This also means that they've designed a structure to place organisms into, to help separate and diversify organisms. 

This is where the classification system comes in starting with Life, leading to Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family , Genus, Species. This ranking systems allows scientists and the normal population to access and find specific species quickly and efficiently. This general hierarchical classification type system can be seen in many other things. Including mechanical naming and classification. Leading to my preference of game to demonstrate this standard. This game being World of Tanks(my review here). Because tanks use a classification and naming scheme very similar to binomial scientific nomenclature.

Every known species is given a two-part name, this name is called it’s scientific name. The system that it’s part of is known as the binomial nomenclature. This system is designed to allow people across the world to discuss specific organisms without confusion. Of course, there would be issues with overlapping names if there weren't international laws that prevent it. Making it so that every scientific name is unique. For example if a scientist were to discuss a certain organism to another scientist he would use that organisms scientific name instead of it’s normal name. why is this important? Well because if these two scientists were from different countries, without the ability to communicate through a native language, they’d still know what each were talking about. Of course more commonly is the occurrence, that the non-scientific names of organisms share multiple nicknames and without scientific naming it would lead to confusion when people refer to them with different names.

Scientific names are also designed to tell a bit about the organisms relativity with other organisms. The first part of a scientific name is the generic name,which describes the species, it must always be the genus of said species, the second part is the specific name, this describes the specific organism within that species. Simply put the layout for scientific name would be:(Genus Name Specific Species Name). This allows scientists who discover a new species under a certain genus the ability to give it a unique name while still incorporating its genus name . The naming process is generally pretty descriptive of a key feature of an organism.

So how do you use this in the classroom? Well first off you find a game(my preference: World of Tanks, you can find it (link to my game review of WoT) on my blog). Now that you understand what Wot is(if you read the review). I’ll demonstrate a few ideas for using it in the classroom.

• Idea 1( for basic know-how and tutorials on the game look: here)
• Split the class room up into two groups, making it as even as possible.
• assign to each side of the room a nation, or let them choose
• Assign the two groups to the custom room layout in WoT
• Once you've set up the room lay out some rules:
• This is how you'll create your custom room for you class.(Will have pictures up when I can fix my WoT client. Their newest patch broke it >.<)
• On a side note, to make a custom game you'll want to look at the middle top of your "garrage" you'll see "Battle" and then below it "standard battle" with a little downwards arrow,
• 
  
•  click on the downwards arrow and navigate in the list to the entry that says " Training Room" click that
• Once there you can use the fancy ">>' and "<<" to arrange your students onto each side. Then you can hit the battle button and begin.
• 1: when you destroy a tank call out the tank name, and when communicating with your team mates you must use the tank names you're referring too, not " that tank" , or " it" ETC
• 2: Only tier 1-2 are usable,
• and any personal rules you'd like to set
• Now the best part start the game and let the students play it out, calling out tanks names when they destroy them.
• Next when they finish the first round, 10-15 minutes on average 20 minutes max. 
• Next set up another rule
• They can't say tank names and must refer to enemy tanks and their own as " it", " tank" , "that tank " ETC
• Now have them play another game
• The goal of this is to give an example of how specific names clear up confusion and allow for easy conversing and explaining,

• 
  

As always I’m Palacia bringing you the best information on Educational gaming. Please let me know if you'd like help or have comments by emailing me at cymeks.hun@gmail.com. Please comment and like, Pal out.

World of tanks A guide for teachers.

World of tanks

A guide for teachers.

Welcome to another gaming review/teacher-tutorial on the game World of Tanks(WoT) developed by Wargamming inc. Wargaming has three different vehicle based warfare game, World of planes, World of tanks, and World of Warships. Thankfully all of these games are completely free, and can simply be downloaded and played. However, Today, however, we’ll just be focusing on World of Tanks(WoT), which is a pre-21st century tank warfare game. Using historically accurate tanks like the Tiger I, and King Tiger.There are a total of seven different nation each with unique tanks to play, all tanks fit into five different categories: Heavy Tanks, Medium Tanks, Light tanks, tank destroyers, and SPG(Self-propelled Guns, also known as arties or clickers).  You can then engage in tank vs tank warfare in 15 vs 15 matches on various maps. The goal of each match is to either capture(cap) the enemies base or destroy all of their tanks.

How well has the game stood up in the gaming community? Fairly well, it was released around 2010, and really hasn't lost any support from the players. It’s being played on a competitive level, and the Wargaming has received several top notch gaming medals for the game.

The actual game-play of WoT is quite complex, a video of high level game play can be found here. This game-play is of the highest tiered vehicles: T10. There are ten tiers in WoT, allowing tanks throughout history to be broken up into fare levels of play. An example of this is the mighty Tiger I, which you may have heard that during WWII it was able to one shot m4 Sherman's and T-34s 1000 meters away. Which is where it earned it fame. However, in WoT Tiger I’s are placed with similar leveled tanks(I.E they all have fairly equal damage, armor and health) making it so the tiger I can’t one shot tanks. In fact let me show you WoT’s German tank line:

As you can see the tech tree is massive containing almost all of germany's tanks, even experimental and theoretical. If you look closely you can see the Tiger 1, a tier seven heavy tank. Thanks to WoT's game placements the tank gets put into t7(tier “x”) and up matches effectively separating it from lesser tanks like the t4 Panzer.III.

So how can you use this to educate your students? Well I’ll give three examples, but mind you there are a lot more out there.

• Example 1: High level Algebra and geometry: this Video explains it even better
• example 2: Ever had trouble with students understanding why scientific names exits? tank tree's e and many fold of tanks are a great example as to why specific names are required.
• example 3: what's a better way to explain physics to students then through a game that uses advanced physics to blow things up? Hint…. there isn’t. Anyway in WoT theres an advanced physics system for shell penetration, shell drop, ramming, and jumping( yes you can jump tanks).

So we've talked about the pros for WoT in education, but what about the cons? Well there are, sadly, a few cons to discuss.

• Problem one: Getting your school to allow you to use this fantastic game?
• This is indeed a big problem and one that I’m not entire positive with. But I’m pretty sure that if you can link your standards to the game, which I’ve already done in my handy dandy standard specific guides. You may convince them to let you use  it.
• Problem two: Not understanding how to use the game?
• this is a good concern, but have no fear… Because I’M BAT… nah but I have created some really hand guides that help guide you through using the game in your classroom including an installation and first day in WoT guide found here and here(WIP, heh).
• Problem three:ha there isn't one

As always the infamous and semi-professional paladin of education gaming: Palacia signing off, hope you enjoyed the guide and email me at cymeks.hun@gmail.com if you need anything at all.

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