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Showing posts with label Scientific Naming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scientific Naming. Show all posts

Friday, October 10, 2014

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.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

World of tanks A guide for teachers.

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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