Monday

I coded a Magic 8-ball using Python on CoLab. I have taken several coding classes throughout the years, so I have a basic understanding of if…else statements and programming algorithms.

I asked it three questions.

So good news, the meaning of life remains unanswered, and I will graduate on time. Bad news, I will never eat gluten again.

Wednesday

This was a peer teaching day, and I learned about Twine, an open-source tool for telling interactive stories, and some video game maker software (they couldn’t get it to show up on their laptop). Twine was interesting to learn about since I was going to be teaching about Quest, another interactive storytelling software, on Friday. It had a more technical and practical user interface than mine, but it encompassed many of the same techniques. It reminded me a lot of the interface on Microsoft Access.

Friday

I taught about the open-source interactive storytelling software, Quest. I made a simple game to start with and decided to show how to use Quest by adding to it. Then, I made a dog adoption simulator.

I had the photos and the text prepared ahead of time for adding in the beagle puppy. I showed my table how to format each page and then how to create the options for it. I showed them a shortcut for linking a choice to an existing page, which they found very useful (although they kept interrupting me about how there should be a better way to connect existing pages while I was doing said better way). I then had them play through the available options for the simulator. We then ended the lesson by looking at other games on the software, which included a very entertaining doctor simulator and a weird but equally entertaining avocado simulator—an excellent way to usher in spring break.

I also created my proposal for my final project. Initially, I was going to make a Minecraft server exploring AI technology’s potential applications and implications in various aspects of society. Unfortunately, that did not work out AT ALL. It turns out that I own the Bedrock version, which is not ideal for serves, or adding in mods and most other third-party tools explicitly created for the Java (original) edition). I was going to purchase this version, it was not expensive, but Mojang is combing both editions in the Summer so that you buy both at the same time (this has to do with switching Java over to Microsoft Xbox accounts). So if you only have one version, they will offer the other one for free in the Summer. I was not going to pay for something I would get for free in a couple of months. I would say screw Mojang, but I love all HAIL MOJANG. So, panic ensued, and new plans were made.

My new project involves the same idea and topics but in a new format. First, I will create an interactive story/lesson on the AI topics using Quest. This works out for the best because it will take less time than making a server and building on Minecraft (it would have been epic, but I also would have been brain dead). While I do have some experience building on Minecraft, I am by no means a professional builder nor an expert on command blocks (blocks that enable custom commands), mods, or anything involving outside tools. I am, however, a pretty decent writer. Not to toot my own horn, but toot, toot.

Here is the project narrative straight from my proposal.