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Week 1

This is it! Week 1 is here.

I would like to welcome you to this course. I'm looking forward to working with each and everyone of you.

Hopefully, by now you have received an email with instructions for getting started. Simply go to the Schedule and follow the directions. You need to create your wiki, blog, and media links accounts as soon as possible.

As always: If you have any technical issues while using this wiki, post your question here or send me an email at ulises.mejias AT oswego DOT edu.

Week 2

To-Do's

  • You've got some readings due for Tuesday. Check the Schedule for details. I want to see lots of notes and comments!
  • If you have not yet created your user page, you may want to do that ASAP (check to see if there is a question mark after your name in the Course Directory — and click on it!).

Wiki Tips

  1. If you haven't, watch the video tutorials.
  2. Keep an eye on the Help Desk forum, and post any questions you may have (technical or about the assignments).
In case you haven't noticed, there is one tool in the wiki that can help you keep on top of what is going on in the wiki: the Since Your Last Visit box on the top left. This box lets you know everything that has changes in the wiki since the last time you logged on, including:
  • Every comment added to a page.
  • Every post made to the forums.
  • All the wiki pages that have been editer or changed (note that pages with only new comments are not listed)

Class Trip

Our Class Trip is coming up! Please see the corresponding wiki page for more info:
http://courses.ulisesmejias.com/videogames-s10/Class+Trip (external link)
I realize this is on Superbowl Sunday. But those of you who are not hardcore football fans might not want to miss this opportunity to see a film that is not available online and that promises to be very relevant to this course. If you can go, please add you name to the list by Wednesday so I can plan the trip accordingly.

Week 3

Assignments

Please consult the Schedule. You've got some readings due, and Thursday we begin our group presentations!

Grades

I have begun entering grades, which you can see on Angel (click the Refresh link in the Grades window, or go to Report). A couple of words regarding grades:
  • Angel grades are merely a check on your progress, and not an indication of what your final grade will be. Since Angel averages your grades, you might currently have an F. Don't panic (yet)! Instead, make sure you don't miss any assignments.
  • Remember that, as far as Notes and Discussions, you are required to both make additions and edits to the notes AND post comments at the bottom of the page for EVERY reading. If you have only been doing comments, or only done some readings but not others, this will affect your grade. You are supposed to do all the work, because that's how I know you are actually reading and learning something!

Week 4

More awesome group presentations this week! (I'll be watching the ones on Thursday via Skype)

Plus, we continue preparing for osw3go.net!

How about more blogging from people?

Week 6

You know the drill: Readings on Tuesday, lab on Thursday. Looking forward to it!

I would like to see more blogging! Make sure you read the assignment description.

We are getting ready to launch Osw3go.net any day now! There are just some college hurdles that we need to clear.

Week 7

Commence operation osw3go.net!

The site is live and open for business. Please direct everyone to http://osw3go.net. (external link) And remember that you can participate in the simulation as well.

Welcome back!

I hope you had a chance to recharge your batteries during Spring Break, and are ready to tackle the last third of the semester!

Assignments

Tuesday March 23 (see the email I sent about this)
  • We'll hear from groups 1 and 2 about their lab reports.
  • Be ready to propose your final project!
Thursday March 25
  • You've got some reading assignments (consult the Schedule). Be ready to discuss the readings!

Grades

I just updated your grades on Angel. As I am sure you realize, we have a lot of important assignments coming up, so make sure you stay on top of things. Some folks (you know who you are) are not keeping up with the notes/discussions, and their grades are starting to reflect this. In the gamespace of this course, there is no Reset button. Remember that you have to make some contribution to the notes AND make at least one contribution to the comments for each assigned reading! Also FYI, you now have about a month to complete all your blog posts, so plan accordingly.

Osw3go.net

We are just about ready to launch our simulation. Be ready to start playing the simulation on Wednesday, March 24. Watch this space for the final confirmation (I'll send an email as well).

Any questions? Let me know.

Week 10


This is a graph of activity at Osw3go.net:

The bottom numbers are the days in March. As you can see, there was a spike of activity when we launched. Now the activity is going down. You need to participate! Nothing gives a worse impression than a website where there is only a trickle of activity. I want to see at least 10 new posts a day! Between my two classes (about 40 students), we should be able to make that happen.

I've talked to my Networks class about redoubling marketing efforts, but remember that you are also supposed to be playing the simulation and turning it into an educational experience! How's that going? If nothing else, you can play one of the story characters and say something controversial (something you wouldn't necessarily say yourself) in order to stir up debate. Nothing like controversy to get a dialogue started!

Labs

We have Team 4's lab report Tuesday, and Team 5's experiment on Thursday.

Readings

You have a couple of readings due Tuesday.

Week 11


Osw3go.net

The following summary of average hits for the month of March and the first 5 days of April is useful, I think:

On a daily average, the number of hits, files and pages for March is still higher than April (which we've only started), but the average daily visits for April (18) is higher than March (16). That's good, but in a campus of 7,000 students, is that the best we can do? Does anyone have any ideas for how to increase participation?

Assignments

Tuesday: Discuss readings. Maybe lab report from Team 3?
Thursday: Non-fiction games. Bring your laptop!


Week 12



Blogging

Remember that you have about 2 weeks to finish your blog posts.

Extra Credit Opportunity! Post 10 comments on Mediated, get 20 points! Go to our Mediated blog (external link) and comment on any of the posts submitted by your peers. Your comments should be more than "I liked this" or "Good job." Basically, I want you to do two things: 1) react to the content, and 2) provide any suggestions about how the post could have been improved (in other words, pretend you are grading the post). You have until May 1st to complete this extra credit opportunity. You must also list a link to each comment on your wiki user page, so I can find them. If you don't post the links, I won't be able to find your comments, and you won't get the credit. Any questions? Let me know.


Osw3go.net

OK folks, in all honesty I don't think you are taking this assignment seriously. What are you doing to make the simulation a learning experience? Remember that you have less than two weeks. Here are some suggestions:
  • As a participant in the simulation, summarize and link to useful online resources on racism (studies, readings, etc.)
  • Design a poll for the simulation (come up with the multiple choice question) and send it to me. I will post it on the site.
  • Find videos that we can feature, and send Jarrod, Andy or me the link.
Remember: this is a graded assignment.

Assignments

You have readings for Tuesday and a lab on Thursday.

Comprehensive Exam

We need to talk about this.

Week 13


Readings

You have some readings to annotate and discuss. Please consult the Schedule.

Comprehensive (Final) Exam

I will be emailing you the exam soon.

Blogging

Remember that all of your 4 blog posts need to be published by next Sunday (April 25, end of the day). Good job posting comments. It's amazing what a little extra credit can do! ;-) Maybe I should have made participation in Osw3go an extra credit opportunity as well. Oh, wait... participation in Osw3go is a graded assignment! (see below)

Osw3go.net

The most recent stats do not tell a pretty picture:

Participation is really going down. Remember that even though participation is anonymous, you will be having to write a report about what you did. Obviously, you won't be able to write on the report that you participated extensively if the numbers do not support those claims. We have about two weeks left, so really make an effort to participate and get others to participate. Don't just log on and do a drive-by posting. Try to read the ongoing conversations and add something new!

Also, some important dates:
  • Our Quest panel is this Wednesday (4/21) on Campus Center room 205 at 3:15 pm. Please attend if you can!
  • There will be a Community Forum on May 10 from 12:30-2:30 pm (room tbd) to discuss the whole experience. More details forthcoming.

Course Announcement

For those of you on campus, you may be interested in this course I am teaching in the Fall:
Technology and Culture : BRC 420 CRN 94905 (undergrad) or BRC 520 CRN 94906 (graduate). An introduction to theoretical frameworks for understanding how technology shapes and is mutually shaped by ways of thinking about the self and the world. The course also looks at how artists, feminists and non-Western thinkers have provided alternative models for thinking about technology and culture. Meets 4:35 pm - 5:55 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays.



Week 14

Final Stretch

Hard to believe, but we are quickly approaching the end of the semester!
  • All you blog posts must be published at this point. Only commenting can continue (for those of you doing the extra credit). Remember to make a list of your blog posts on your user page so I can quickly locate them for grading.
  • Your final projects are due on May 9.
  • Your Osw3go report is due on May 9. See assignment description. This is going to be the last week of the Osw3go simulation, so make sure you remain active!

Tuesday: Readings

You have some readings to annotate and discuss. Please consult the Schedule.

Thursday: Special Guest

Dr. Alex Pantaleev will be visiting our class.

Osw3go.net

Visits have been going up and down, as you can see:

The Quest panel went very well, I thought. A couple of you were there! If the intense discussion that unfolded during Q&A is any indication, I think we can look forward to an interesting forum on May 10th (more details forthcoming).

Week 15

Course Feedback

Please provide feedback about the course right here!

Final Week of classes!

  • Tuesday: Lab 6 report, and you have the final chapter of Wark to annotate and discuss. Plus, we'll be doing course evaluations.
  • Thursday: Course-wrap up, donuts, special mystery project, and free play (if time allows!)

Grades

I will be catching up and grading the most recent notes/discussion assignments as well as your blogging and extra-credit assignments. Please check Angel to see your grades. I will also get to your exams as soon as I can, I promise.

Osw3go.net Community Forum

This is the last week to participate in the Osw3go.net simulation. Next week, come to the Community Forum Tuesday, May 11th, from 12:30 to 2:30 pm in 114 Campus Center.

Contributors to this page: ProfMejias1793 points  .
Page last modified on Monday 10 of May, 2010 08:50:50 AM EDT by ProfMejias1793 points .