There is just a wealth of Literacy work that can be developed through Adventure Author and Never Winter Nights 2.  We are trying to use the fantasy adventure genre to develop our games, stories and reading.  The current books we have are of this genre, though I would be open to a few more suggestions for good fantasy adventure reads for P7s.

We had spent the initial stages of the project developing our landscape, the setting for our adventure.  This involved a number of collaborative efforts being developed for days on end.  There were also those who chose to scrap everything they had done and start again (quite often) and those who wanted to take their own work in a different way from their partner, so had to copy their files over from their partners login.  Some of the class actually managed to work this out all by themselves – remind me to ask them how to do it soon!

The toolkit is visually rich, it just lends itself to powerful description.  There is such opportunity here to develop vocabulary, synonyms, adverbs, adjectives, plus so much more.  I think I may well make use of our Moving Image resources and get some commentary on each game screen from other members of the class, filming it as we go round, then make some form of master edit!  From this we could even develop a word bank of powerful vocabulary to use in our own story development.  I think that’s a great idea, just come up with it!

Making use of our free local maps from Ordance Survey, we investigated coordinates, keys, terrain and how the landscape is represented on the maps.

The initial Area of an Adventure Author game is a 6×6 grid.  This can obviously be attacked randomly, or it can be utilised to form a path through the game for the player.  We investigated some maps of Middle Earth and looked at the journey that the Fellowship had to make to fulfill their quest.

We used the simple template that is attached here to design our initial terrain, some of this was done from a blank canvas and some from what was already present.

area map

Using our group reading books, we tried to keep a record of interesting description of characters.  We grouped them into 5 main categories, having looked at the different sorts of characters that had appeared in our novels and that could feature in our own stories.

Evil: Mad, Mental, Crooked, Crazy, Repulsive, Rotten, Devious, Dangerous, Horrible, Nasty, Sly, Mean, Bad, Outrageous, Demonic, vicious, Angry, Horrid, Cunning, Not nice, Nonsense, Unkind.

Big: Gigantic, Massive, Giant, Huge, Tall, Large, Enormous, Humongous, Immense, Extraordinary.

Strong: Tough, Powerful, Brave, Muscular, Magnificent, Immense, Super, Mighty.

Good: Happy, Spectacular, Wonderful, Magnificent, Considerate, Fabulous, Nice, Hero, Excellent, Great, Fantastic, Brilliant, Amazing
Awesome, Responsible, Reliable, Pleasant, Kind, Lovely, Trustful, Thoughtful.

Small: Puny, Wee, Tiny, Little, Midget, Mini, Slim, Petite, Microscopic, Totsy, Short.

The list is attached as a pdf (Character Synonyms)

We’ve started working with Heriot-Watt University on the Adventure Author Project.

13 or so individually installed patches, extra RAM, suite refresh, crashed servers and a graphics card driver update later and we were ready to begin.  Was it worth the wait?  I can definitely answer in the positive.  I’d drip fed the class that we were going to start an exciting new project, but I hadn’t wanted to get their hopes up until we could actually begin.  ICT Support had been excellent, but it was still a bit of a nightmare to get to a starting position.

Because of this delay, starting towards the end of October, and the ensuing craziness that is a primary school at Christmas time, it has been somewhat of sporadic journey.  Hopefully, with shows now behind us, we have a slightly clearer run in until the end of term, which will allow us to get our virtual teeth stuck into Adventure Author.

The initial feedback from the class has been so positive.  This involved pupils sending emails from home saying how much fun they had had in class that day.  Also, some of the boys chose to go to homework club to use the computers rather than go out to play football at lunch time.

Initially, we gave the pupils space to play and explore in pairs… a class of 30 fits nicely into an ICT suite that way!  Worlds were created, as were Zombie armies.  Dragons were discovered, as were a number of functions that we planned to introduce later on!  Fancy that, finding stuff out for themselves, rather than waiting to be told in an order that suits the teacher… shame on them!  In a way, the next stage was quite a difficult step, to try to bring some order, some structure, some objective to the project, and share this with the class.  Do you want to create a fantastic computer game, or would you rather come here and discuss plots?  Well, actually we’re going to do both!  And, actually they did!

My nano presentation can be found here: http://prezi.com/a6d6g8li5aup/

TeachMeet Falkirk photos, courtesy of shrmps, can be found here.

Have at last had time to (begin to) reflect on Teachmeet Falkirk, as the following two evenings were taken up with Parents Nights… nice!

For an unconference, there is still a heck of a lot of behind the scenes work and preparation to do, with @mvass bearing the brunt of that (although she did have a team of able and willing supporters)!

I think (for any teachmeet) the venue is important. We wanted somewhere away from school, which we got, but maybe for some, it was to far away from anything else! The building offered great flexibility, with space for break out plus having dinner onsite just meant for easy transition. The venue was ideal for locals, as it is used for other CPD events by the council. Perhaps it wasn’t the best for those coming from outwith, but is that so important?

Timing is also important. Part of me felt the 5 for 6 was a bit too late, as it was Falkirk inservice, so some folk were hanging about from 3 or 4. For those outwith the region, the M80 etc at peak time is a nightmare, so maybe a later start would have been better, but then the later finish for TeachEat is not so attractive.

Many folk have been discussing the future or evolution of TeachMeet and it is very interesting to see many local spin offs being planned and organised, like those in East Lothian and Perth. This is a really positive happening if the net is to be cast wider. Otherwise you can imagine it will just be a core of people returning, again and again. Not that this is a negative thing, perhaps it is important for the key players (?) to meet and be refuelled, before departing again to their regions, so a bigger event at, say the SLF, could still be important in keeping the TeachMeet snowball rolling.

The amount of kit on show in Falkirk was quite frightening! Is this attractive to the newbie? Is it more of a turnoff? Many of the ideas were ICT based, most Web based. Perhaps the CfE based upcoming TeachMeets will present a broader range of ideas? For those not too technically skilled, it maybe a bit overdone, though through the wiki and twitter etc, the message is spread to those who have some strength in ict. Perhaps there is a place for a lowtech TeachMeet? (would you still use twitter and the wiki to spread the word?)!

Just like the Co-op, local could be the way forward for TeachMeet. Obviously, the bulk of the workload would fall on key players, but isn’t that always the way? With a strong local support, future events may become easier to organise, perhaps simpler also.

Some amount of rambling. Any amount of sense?

Whistling. Is there enough? Should we teach it to our young people – Higher whistling anybody? Andrew Bird can whistle! No, he really can! Although it’s more of a warble (perhaps he’s a twitcher when not on show?). He can also do a lot of other things. But the only ones I know anything about are his ability to play a manifold number of instruments, almost simultaneously, turning a one man show, into a big band performance!

I think I first really discovered I liked Andrew Bird whilst driving up Highway 7 to Ottawa, Canada. His latest release was playing on one of those satellite radio stations with many letters and numbers in it’s name, KCTRWX 109.8 or summat!

Leaving his band behind, somewhere in Englandshire, Dr Bird made his way to Oran Mor, Glasgow, a venue that has notably hosted some quality performances for me over the last few years. This was one of those gigs were I wasn’t really sure what to expect. But that was refreshing. Playing solo, we questioned how he would sound. We of little faith. He just has to be one of the scientist racing for the prize, in accordance with The Flaming Lips. The stage was his laboratory. The instruments his implements. Music his creation. Layer upon layer of live tracks were laid down as he fulfilled the duties of all band members himself. Then there was the whistling. The angst. The humour. The sarcasm. The depth, yet accessibility of lyrics, themselves containing layer upon layer of meaning. This dreamy conception was like a blackhole to another place, a good place, a place to dream, to explore. Yet, like your favourite desert, too much would be sickening.

With the gig wife, sch3pl and Miss Bliss all happy, we headed into the windy streets suitably impressed and somewhat inspired.

(image used under creative commons license: from gussifer)

Fitting in with the new Literacy Outcomes, I think I have been to the movies more recently than in my entire life! (And staying in is meant to be the new going out, never was one for keeping up with trends!). Having said that, I’ve also been reading a lot more also. Finally managed to get to see Watchmen.

The old viewing companion had bartered that I had to read the book first before watching. Is this ever a good idea? It can only ever result in the immortal lines, it’s not as good as the book… Especially a comic, sorry, graphic novel. I didn’t really ever get into reading graphic novels (or grovels as per the website!). Roy of the Rovers was about as far I made it, or those little Commando booklets, guess they were some sort of hybrid inbetweeners. It does change how you read though, as you can’t just scan through the text, there is a lot more going on, with the images contributing much more to the story than you might expect.

There seemed to be a quite a few end points in the film, but instead of drawing to a close, it kicked on again. I guess they managed to make a somewhat easier ending for the mass market. Some great performances, notably Rorschach. Some great costumes, enough to rival a gig by The Darkness, or even Alice Cooper in his prime. Having no BIG names, was also beneficial, as first, they could never be the bad guy, or they usually don’t die. So you try to pay more attention to the setting, to the scene, to the character. It’s also nice in a way not to have a lovely happy ending. Perhaps the heroes did save the world, but by deceit and death… nice.

The Damned United. 44 days at Leeds. Mr Clough, famous for so much success at Forest, but the focus was failure here. I didn’t say his failure, the story alludes to the fact that the club, or more notably, the players, failed their new manager. They failed to move on, when their previous mnager, father figure, Don Reevie did. He ended up where by the way? The explosion of Cloughism on the tv and the bookshelves owes itself to what? To this film? Very interesting that this film ventures back to simplicity, to engaging performance and dialogue. To the viewers being gripped by the performances and on-going feud/relationship/obsession between the main characters. Michael Sheen, as Clough, compels, almost commands the viewer to watch, such is the strenght of his performance/presence.

Sport is obviously big business. Even back then Clough correctly forecast the importance of the money, of the big personalities. Leading me nicely to the legend that is Sir Jeff of Stelling. Soccer Saturday has transformed the weekend. No longer do we have to wait for teletext to refresh it’s bold, green, pages, we now can watch people on the tele, watching their own tele, talking about a match that we cannot see. It does sound ludicrous, but it is just the business. Although our good friends at the Beeb have desperately tried to replicate it, that red button just does not cut the mustard…

The one liners make it. The banter. The in jokes. The knowledge. I am so looking forward to Jelleyman’s Thrown a Wobbly. Surely it should have been released pre-Christmas, this is the gift for the man that has everything, and needs no more power tools or socks!

Mark Steel had plenty to say for himself at The Old Fruit Market.  It’s ok, he was on stage, not just rambling.  Although some of his best stuff did announce itself during his rants.  Strangely we’d been having a discussion about Marxism and Communism earlier (thanks scott), as we ate in the Russian Bar Cafe place just round the corner.  I was desperately trying to remember some of the words I had learned and used on my travels in Kiev.  Somehow, “where is the railway station” didn’t really have a place when speaking to the waiter.  I was quite proud of my correct pronounciation of Borscht and the fact that I knew what it was.  By the main course I had even got up to the use of please and thank you.  (Simbo, you would be so proud!).  Steel had plenty of ammunition from his socialist locker, and many an astute observation on the current political climate (a vehicle for his soap box perhaps?).  The 2nd half, as halves usually come in pairs, was by most peoples comments a tad indepth and intense… more Billy Connolly someone did cry… Steel managed to direct the Glasgow Banter well, allowing for it, but not drowning in it.  Due to the slight concussion suffered in the morning amble round the pitch I withdrew from going to the late “The Late Show”, which is meant to be some sort of festival show case.  Next year, I must make more of March.  Well, I want to party like it’s my birthday!  Which it was, but it was tricky to go for it the weekend, after a week long residential away with the class…

The good people at amazon sent out a convoy with some new CDs for me.  Like London Buses, I hadn’t seen one for a while, then four came at once.

The Airborne Toxic Event – s/t. Liking the west Coast Easy Rock vibe of these, with a definite highlight being Some Time Around Midnight.

Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fund. Have heard numerous tracks from these guys over the last while, although I hadn’t realised just how many albums they have released! Not easy listening. Songs are deep, dark, intense, espresso coffee rather than Earl Grey.

Bell X1 – Blue Lights on the Runway – there are one or two tracks that you can instantly latch onto, but there is a lot here that is, so far, forgettable. Despite the ongoing negotiations with Brother Phil over the goodness of Flock, this is not a patch on Music in Mouth, which is excellent, loud and full of attitude. I do like the way they write songs with lyrics which seem light, fluffy and fun, but at the same time with deeper overtones. A grower?

Howling Bells – Radio Wars. Now I loved their first album, don’t we all! Can you ever release something as good as the album that brought you to the attention of everyone, everywhere! (The curse of the net?) What attracted me to the HBs (apart from Juanita!) was the raw, rough, edgy sounds, and although the vocals were restricted, they did exactly what they should. This new album though, I probably need to give it more time. It is a new direction. Perhaps that is progress? It is a lot more poppy, but a lot less memorable. Guess I should stick it on again!

Which leads me to the Howling Bells @ The Classic Grand. Not a classic venue. I think it would be great with round tables and an unplugged vibe or perhaps some jazz… nice. The bar is far nosier than even the ABC, and a lot more intrusive than Tuts or Barras… They opened with a number of tracks off the new album, which did nothing to hook the somewhat random mix of folks that made up the crowd. The band seemed to struggle with the new songs, especially vocally, not suiting the lovely singers range. Perhaps it was more a PA issue, since as the set moved onto a mix of tracks from their albums, things seemed to improve somewhat. The standouts were the “big” tracks off the first album, Setting Sun, Blessed Night, that sort of thing. Juanita made an appearance in the middle of the crowd for her creepy spider song, that freaks out the gig wife… this though seemed to help overcome her fear… the encore was a very strange choice of song, i’ve forgotten it, but there was a lot more stage presence during it than during the rest of the gig. So as most school reports have said at one time, shows potential, room for improvement, has a good understanding but could apply it better!  Read Scott also.