Pictures of Juniors and Sophomore the day Seniors were gone

Here's a link to pictures of dismantling computers -- the day the seniors were gone.

http://picasaweb.google.com/dlclingingsmith/JuniorsInComputerProgramming21109?feat=directlink

ICA-CP: 2/18/2009

Good morning!

Today we will be going over a new Java package called StringTokenizer. StringTokenizer takes a sentence and breaks it down into individual words. Each word is called a token. You will be using StringTokenizer to modify your Eliza programs so that users may type whole sentences instead of just a single word. There is a an explanation of StringTokenizer at this web site: http://www.devdaily.com/java/edu/pj/pj010006/pj010006.shtml There will be one or two questions about StringTokenizer on the test re-take next week.


For Juniors who are going on retreat, you have homework. You must take the Myers-Briggs personality inventory and have your results for our class on Tuesday next week, 2/24/2009. The Myers-Briggs inventory is worth 10 points. If you have to take the inventory in class on Tuesday, 2/24/2009, you get zero points. Here's the link: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm. To get 10 points credit, print out the survey results page, put your name on it, and hand it to me.

Here's our calendar for this and next week:

1) Today, 2/18/2009 - Lecture on StringTokenizer. Lab working to convert Eliza to use StringTokenizer.

2) Friday, 2/20/2009 - Juniors are on retreat. The rest of us finish StringTokenizer and take the Myers-Briggs personality survery. The survery is at this link: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes1.htm. To get 10 points credit, print out the survey results page, put your name on it, and hand it to me.

3) Tuesday, 2/24/2009 - Lecture: Review of Java syntax concepts again for test re-take on Thursday, 2/26/09. Lab: Create a program to print Myers-Briggs results. Due today by the end of class for 50 points: Eliza with StringTokenizer.

4) Thursday, 2/26/2009 - Re-take Java syntax test. Lab: Work on Myers-Briggs program. Due today by the end of class for 50 points: Myers-Briggs program.


We have a new blog on computer game design. It is: http://ica-gamedesign.blogspot.com/. This and next week's Question of the Week will be on computer gaming. Next week's question of the week will be based on the links to artibles at ica-gamedesign.blogspot.com. In March, we start working on computer game design.

ICA-CP: Question of the Week - Due 2/20/2009

[The Question of the Week is due on Friday, 2/20/2009 by 5:00 PM. It should be at least 250 words in length.]

Background: Brenda Brathwaite is a video game designer. She has been in the industry over 26 years. Read the article about The Game Design Game at this link: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/issues/issue_138/2968-The-Game-Design-Game Think about the article in relation to the game concept you created during our last class. This is all about critical thinking!

Questions: How would you apply Pair Programming and group dynamics to the design and implementation of your game? If you have a team, what are some of the roles the team members will have? What are some of the steps you will use to define your game in detail? For your game, identify some of the tasks you would have team members perform as you go through the design process? For example, you might assign one team member research on bowling rules or on names of big bowling tournaments. You might research historical settings for a role playing game. Be detailed in your response.

ICA-CP: For Friday the Thirteenth

Good day!

If some of you happen to read tomorrow's blog today, please spread the word -- we do not need textbooks for tomorrow's class in room 205.

Tomorrow, we will be watching a History Channel movie. The title is: Modern Marvels: Computers and Games. After the movie, we will be having small group discussions about topics related to the movie.

See you tomorrow at 7th period in the Flame Room!

Question of the Week: Due 2/13/09

[At least 250 words on the Question of the Week topic are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, 2/13/09 for a maximum of 25 points. In addition, you must place links to at least two other articles which you have found in your blog.]

Background: Special effects -- we've all seen them in movies. In the early history of movie making, special effects were often generated by using tricks to fool the eye. To make flying saucers appear to float across the screen, some early movies used miniature models. Now, we just generate them using computers. In the history of movie making, the first major advance was use of the blue screen. For a quick history, see http://www.riverdeep.net/current/2002/03/031802_movies.jhtml. Now we make entire animated movies only using computers. Special effects have gotten so good that it is hard to tell the real from the computer generated. Not convinced?? Go to this web site and take this test: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/real.html

Here are a few more resource links:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/specialfx2/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_effects

http://www.filmsite.org/visualeffects.html

Question: Pick a movie, perhaps one of your favorites. Explain how computer generated special effects were used for that film. Find two research links to justify your explanation. Identify at least three specific scenes where computer special effects were used.

ICA-CP: 2/9/2009 - Re-take Data Types quiz

Good afternoon!

We have a Spartan Day, which means we have a 61 min. period. Plus, it's Monday. So, it's quiz do-over day. We'll do Questions and Answers. Then, it's quiz time. The quiz is at this link: http://www.quia.com/quiz/1322876.html. You may use your notes (not someone else's notes) and the class blog. Good luck to everyone on the quiz!

On Weds., only juniors will be in class. We will meet in the cafeteria to take apart computers!

On Friday, we are all back together -- but in the Flame room!!!! You will need your textbooks on Friday. So, bring them to class if you have one checked out to you. Also, in honor of the last day in our Cristo Rey schedule week, I'll have surprise for breakfast.

ICA-CP: 2/4/09

Good afternoon!

The Question of the Week for this week is optional and is for 25 points extra credit. Here it is: In senior citizen homes, using a Wii is more popular than bingo. Why? Include 2 links to your research.

Next week:
Monday: retake datatypes portion of test
Wednesday. -Juniors only will be in class. Meet in cafeteria. We are going to take apart computers to see what is inside.
Friday: Meet in room 205.

Today: We are going over datatypes once again.