[Physltest] [Phys-L] Re: Computer Games (was Mac vs. PC )

[Rick Tarara <rtarara@SAINTMARYS.EDU>]

This is my 'excuse' for staying up with what's happening in the gaming
world.  ;-)    My Energy Management Simulators (see below) are strategy
games.  Part of the constant updating I do on these (a new, all-inclusive
version is in the works) is to keep them visually interesting because
students coming from gaming backgrounds will NOT be interested in 'PONG'
level graphics.  The Newton's Maze program in my lab simulation series is
also a game--very simple game, but one based on the proper use of Newton's
Laws.  This one is modeled from a real exercise we've done with large ball
bearings, air hoses, air-track air supplies, and lots of masking tape.
Admittedly my computer version has little visual excitement and would not
tempt many students to replay many times, but it is slightly more
sophisticated than 'Pong' and in the future could be 'spruced up'.

Rick

*********************************************************
Richard W. Tarara
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana
rtarara@saintmarys.edu
********************************************************
Free Physics Educational Software (Win & Mac)
NEW: Animations for PowerPoint
          Newton's Maze lab simulation
          Simplified Energy Management Simulator
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/software.html
Energy 2100--class project
www.saintmarys.edu/~rtarara/ENERGY_PROJECT/ENERGY2100.htm
********************************************************
----- Original Message -----
From: "Aaron Titus" <titus@MAILAPS.ORG>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, January 26, 2005 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: Computer Games (was Mac vs. PC )


> I agree that computer games swallow student's time and interest. So how
> can we use this to our advantage to teach physics? If students will
> play games for hours, then let's create some games that will teach them
> physics along the way. In games like Civilization, students have to
> build a society by managing natural resources, inventing, appropriating
> money to various things, etc. Why not have a "Scientific Civilization"
> where students build ideas, test their ideas, invent new technology
> based on those ideas, etc?
>
>
> Let's use games to our advantage!
>
> Aaron
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