[MWForum]MicroWorlds EX

[Wendy Petti]

These are good ideas.  It is also possible to create a math game which
generates random questions and evaluates the answers.  It is easiest to
focus on one operation at a time, but then you can design a version of the
game which chooses randomly from addition, subtraction, multiplication and
division questions, or even a game in which it is possible to choose a
difficulty level (how many digits, etc.).

Here are procedures for a simple multiplication quiz game.  (Mind you, I'm
not promoting the idea of drill and practice math games!  I don't know what
kind of math games your students are developing.  But this is a simple way
to get started in game creation.)

This game presents problems in question boxes and evaluates the answers.  If
the answer is correct, the score in the SCORE textbox increases by 1 and a
little snake moves forward 20 pixels; otherwise the computer shows the
answer in an announcement box, the snake moves back 20 pixels, and the score
decreases by 1.  For the game below you would need a "new_problem" button
and a "new_game" button and there is no clear finish to the game.  It would
be fairly easy to improve on this game so that new questions appear
automatically after the previous question is evaluated, until a specified
number of questions have been asked.  It would also be possible to announce
how many points have been earned out of how many total questions asked
(perhaps when the game ends).

* * * * *

to new_problem
make "m1 random 11
make "m2 random 11
question (se :m1 "x :m2 "=)
ifelse answer = :m1 * :m1 [setscore score + 1 fd 20] [show_answer bk 20
setscore score - 1]
end


to show_answer
make "m1m2product :m1 * :m2
announce (se :m1 "x :m2 "= :m1m2product)
end


to new_game
setscore 0
t1, setpos [-178 -6]
end

to startup
new_game
end

Wendy Petti
OWL's MicroWorlds in Action
http://mia.openworldlearning.org
Math Cats
http://www.mathcats.com

- - - - -

> Another way to do this:
>
> Assume you have a procedure
> ASKQUES :N
> which asks a question depending on the value of the input it is
> called with.
>
> At the beginning of the game maybe have a procedure like
> TO STARTUP
> MAKE "Q 1
> END
>
> Then the button's instruction could say
> ASKQUES :Q   MAKE "Q :Q + 1
>
> - Jerry Balzano (F&M alumnus)
>
> >You can have one button that starts the game. In it you would put
> >the name of  each procedure that asks a question
> >
> >to play
> >ques1
> >ques2
> >ques3
> >end
> >
> >Then it will ask one question at a time.
> >
> >Susan
> >On Apr 13, 2004, at 10:37 AM, Bob Irving wrote:
> >
> >>Got a question...  My students are writing math games.  Is
> there a good way
> >>to ask multiple questions (say, 10) without having 10 buttons
> to launch each new question?
>