Periodicity War A Review Game Christi Camel EDTECH 511 Dr. Andy Hung May 2, 2012
Table of Contents Introduction... 3 Target learners... 3 Purpose and objectives... 3 Equipment Needed... 3 Hardware Requirements... 3 Computer... 3 Peripherals... 3 Monitor... 3 Software Requirements... 3 Operating System... 3 Application Programs... 3 Specific Web Browser... 4 Network connections... 4 Getting Started... 4 Network access... 4 Program startup procedure... 4 Normal running of the courseware... 4 Time to complete the courseware... 4 User Interface Components... 4 General operation (e.g. menus, buttons with screen shots)... 4 Evaluation... 8 Ending the program... 8 Trouble shooting... 8 Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 2
Introduction This manual is a guide for the use of the interactive activity, Periodicity War. This activity is designed as a review game for students to play after learning how to use the periodic table to compare the atomic radius as well as electronegativity of the elements. Target learners The target audience for this activity is high school or college students enrolled in a chemistry course. Students should have prior knowledge of patterns on the periodic table for atomic radius and electronegativity. They should also be able to identify which elements have larger/smaller atomic radii and higher/lower electronegativities based on their location in the periodic table. Purpose and objectives This activity satisfies the Next Generation Science Standard Dimension 3 Disciplinary Core Ideas-Physical Sciences, Core Idea PS1: Matter and Its Interactions, PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter which addresses the development of the periodic table and patterns found on it which play an important role in explaining chemical reactivity and bond formation. It also addresses learning target I can identify and apply periodic trends. This activity allows students to practice identifying which elements have larger/smaller atomic radii and higher/lower electronegativities based on their location in the periodic table. Equipment Needed Hardware Requirements Computer Pentium III 700 MHZ with 512M RAM or higher with 512M RAM or higher Peripherals Mouse, Soundcard and speakers (optional) Monitor A monitor is required Software Requirements Operating System XP or Vista operating system for PC, comparable operating system for Mac Application Programs Adobe Flash Player 11.0 Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 3
Specific Web Browser Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome or Safari Network connections A network connection is required Getting Started Network access The activity can be found at http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/camelc/511/periodicitywar.html. Copy and paste this address in your web browser to begin. Program startup procedure The intro scene will play first, followed immediately by the rules of the game. Normal running of the courseware Time to complete the courseware This game can take the learner anywhere from 5-30 minutes depending on their level of understanding and desire to continue playing and practicing. The average user will spend approximately 10 minutes to play the entire game. User Interface Components General operation (e.g. menus, buttons with screen shots) The program begins with an intro scene with music. Figure 1 Introduction scene with music Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 4
The introduction is followed by the rules to play the game. The navigation includes a review button which links to an outside website to review the periodic trends and a start button to continue on to play the game. Figure 2 Rules of Periodicity War This is the main screen of the game. Players start and return here to play the game. Navigation includes a Push here to spin button which starts the wheel spinning. Figure 3 Main game screen Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 5
Each time a player pushes the Push here to spin button, the spinner will land on one of four spots and two cards will be flipped over. Directions will appear beneath the cards to tell players what to do next. Navigation includes two cards, each of which is a button. The correct answer will lead to a congratulations screen (Figure 5) while an incorrect answer will lead to a screen that describes the trend (see Figure 6 for one example). Figure 4 Example of the game in play When a correct answer is given, students will be linked to a congratulations screen with a rolling star. Navigation includes a Play Again! button which leads back to the main screen (Figure 3) and an I m done! button which leads to a thank you screen (see Figure 7). Figure 5 Correct answer screen Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 6
When an incorrect answer is given, students will be linked to an oops screen where the trend is reviewed. Navigation includes a review button which links to an outside website to review the periodic trends and a try another button which leads back to the main screen (Figure 3). Each incorrect answer has specific feedback associated with it. Figure 6 Incorrect answer screen example After getting a correct answer, students may choose the I m done! button (Figure 5) which takes them to the thank you screen. Navigation includes a Play Again! button which leads back to the main screen (Figure 3) or students exit the game. Figure 7 Ending the game Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 7
Evaluation This review game is a self-evaluation tool. Learners are given randomized problems to solve, with feedback on incorrect answers which they can use to relearn material. Learners continue to complete problems until they feel they have mastered the material. Ending the program When a student gets a correct answer, they may choose to end the game by using the I m done! button (Figure 5) which leads to a thank you screen (see Figure 7). Here they may decide to exit the game or play again by clicking the Play Again! button. Trouble shooting If you experience technical difficulties while using this activity you may need to update your flash software. The following software is available for free download. http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/ Periodicity War: A User s Guide Page 8