Being a geeky technologist I have always kept abreast of new technologies, primarily those intended for learning. However, one area that I have only dipped my toe into until now is online gaming. I have had experience of using SecondLife and I remember in my university days, my mate in halls roping me in for 2 days playing a strategy game called Rise of Nations - I did not eat sleep or wash in that time.
Back in 2003 however, I remember being mesmerised by the fact I could play a game with someone else over the internet, even though it wasn't really a new concept then.
Anyway 9 years on and my partner decides to buy my affection by purchasing an Xbox 360.
Seriously..dangerous move. It is so easy to get connected to online gaming - almost effortless. Within minutes you are immersed in amazing gameplay, with limitless depth it seems as a result of a non-linear free for all that is online multiplayer. It is dangerous, because time just seems to elapse and before you know it the sun has risen and fallen and you are still sitting around in your pants, nothing achieved but the satisfaction of scoring more points in your last multiplayer deathmatch (depending on what game you are playing of course).
Putting the negatives of computer gaming on young health and development aside, I was amazed and a little embarrassed by firstly having my ass whooped, but secondly and more importantly by a lad probably no more than a third of my age, as they chuckle and taunt down their microphone enabled headset.
However, I did take away positives in the context of using this technology for learning. Going around shooting people in an online game is good mindless fun, but not completely mindless. I was astounded that groups of what seems to be online friends or squads working together and really well thought out strategies and pincer movements that even Patton would have been proud of. So while many discredit computer games for playing a part in the downfall of our modern youth, actually, if you can harness and engage their attention through online gaming to achieve learning outcomes what is the problem?
Why not develop online gaming that has hidden educational goals? Creating online environments where pupils and students have to work together in real-time to solve problems or achieve common goals? Ultimately that is what our industry wants, no? People who can communicate, teamwork, lead others etc?
One slight issue though - teachers will need more power to restrain pupils in the event of this happening..
Friday 22 June 2012
Sunday 10 June 2012
Plane spotting not my bag it seems
After all the hideous weather we have been having in June recently, it seemed as though the sun made a special appearance for my flying lesson.
Arriving 5 mins early I had to wait another 10 mins to wait for my instructor to fly in. Upon his arrival, we had a quick brief and then headed out to AF to start up and make initial contact.
With clearances obtained I taxied up to holding point A1 for take-off on runway 24 - or so I hoped. Just as I get all excited about takeoff, 2 easyjets and some other Irish airline decides they want to land at once - 20 mins wasted on the tarmac waiting for airliners.
Finally after take-off clearance I get to squeeze 2 circuits in with my instructor with 2 reasonable landings. Then instructor hops out back at the clubhouse and then I continue solo.
Having got my clearance, I take off into first circuit and get quick clearance to land for a stop-and-go (that means landing, exit runway and loop back round to the holding point ready for takeoff again). However, this is where the real frustration starts...
Having landed beautifully (if I do say so myself) the controller asks me to come of the runway quickly, at a rarely used taxiway, to make way for one of the easyjets looking to depart - fine - if they are quick - and to be fair they were quite quick about it.
After 10 mins passing, another easyjet decides that it wants to take off. Instead of ensuring it has its clearances before lining up to take-off, it ends up sitting at the end of the runway waiting for these clearances which it wasn't likely to get for the next 25 mins - who knows why?? So that means nothing else can take off out of southend including me. Which means I'm left sitting at my holding point waiting to take off, sweating my tits off because the engine is starting to get hot just sitting on the tarmac.
Eventually the controller contacts me and asks 'What do you want to do?' To which I replied 'I'll just call it a day and head back to the clubhouse' - which I did to find my instructor looking just as pissed off as me at the situation. To add matters worse I end up paying a fortune for a lesson that I spent most of on the tarmac. Check the vid!
Arriving 5 mins early I had to wait another 10 mins to wait for my instructor to fly in. Upon his arrival, we had a quick brief and then headed out to AF to start up and make initial contact.
With clearances obtained I taxied up to holding point A1 for take-off on runway 24 - or so I hoped. Just as I get all excited about takeoff, 2 easyjets and some other Irish airline decides they want to land at once - 20 mins wasted on the tarmac waiting for airliners.
Finally after take-off clearance I get to squeeze 2 circuits in with my instructor with 2 reasonable landings. Then instructor hops out back at the clubhouse and then I continue solo.
Having got my clearance, I take off into first circuit and get quick clearance to land for a stop-and-go (that means landing, exit runway and loop back round to the holding point ready for takeoff again). However, this is where the real frustration starts...
Having landed beautifully (if I do say so myself) the controller asks me to come of the runway quickly, at a rarely used taxiway, to make way for one of the easyjets looking to depart - fine - if they are quick - and to be fair they were quite quick about it.
After 10 mins passing, another easyjet decides that it wants to take off. Instead of ensuring it has its clearances before lining up to take-off, it ends up sitting at the end of the runway waiting for these clearances which it wasn't likely to get for the next 25 mins - who knows why?? So that means nothing else can take off out of southend including me. Which means I'm left sitting at my holding point waiting to take off, sweating my tits off because the engine is starting to get hot just sitting on the tarmac.
Eventually the controller contacts me and asks 'What do you want to do?' To which I replied 'I'll just call it a day and head back to the clubhouse' - which I did to find my instructor looking just as pissed off as me at the situation. To add matters worse I end up paying a fortune for a lesson that I spent most of on the tarmac. Check the vid!
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