Examples
Here are standalone versions of some posted genartion-nano games. These should give you some sense of the technical framework and what the final product based on your storyboard could look like. However, these examples should by no means set limits on your creativity. We highly encourage original ideas and creative approach to storyboard design!
- Conductivity Sorter
Topic: Nanotubes.
The conductivity of a nanotube depends on its chirality - n,m values. Kids are to figure out this connection and sort nanotubes as a semi-conductor or a metal. - Sort the Samples
Topic: Size and Scale.
The concept of relative size is explained in a fun interactive form. After learning the sorting principles, user gets one minute to sort objects on the scale. - Scale Explorer
Topic: Size and Scale.
A great way to introduce the notion of size and scale. User moves the slider to see how a familiar object looks on macro, micro and nano scale.
Tips on Creating a "Serious Game"
There are generally two approaches you can take in designing your game: one is to start from a cool idea on an interesting science topic, and then consider what and how users can learn through your game and work in instructional elements; the second, more rigid, approach is to start from a well-defined learning goal and design your activity around it. Whichever way you start, it's up to you to balance fun and learning, and that's the main challenge of this competition!
Instructional Design Approach
- Select a broad topic:
- Structure of Matter
- Size-Dependent Properties
- Forces
- Self-Assembly
- Identify the learning goals and align them to adequate grade level.
State the learning goals in terms of specific actions students will be able to do, such as sort, identify, classify, describe, name, list, group, etc. Learning goals stated as "students will understand" or "students will know" cannot be observable.
For aligning your learning objectives to the adequate grade level (6th, 7th, and/or 8th), refer to:
National Science Standards
Science benchmarks
National Assessment Report card - Organize the flow of instruction
There are many models that you can follow in order to organize instruction. See an example here.
- Design your storyboard
While designing your storyboard, here are some motivational tips that might be useful to you.
A good article that proposes how to integrate content into a serious game can be found here.
Creative Approach
- Think outside the box. Do you know of an interesting science problem in the suggested areas? Can you think of some engineering method they use in Birck that would be cool to show to kids in animation? What real life examples or imaginary illustrations would be relevant and exciting for teens?
- Design your storyboard
- Consider the instructional design guidelines posted above, identify learning objectives appropriate for mid-school level and work in feedback and assessment mechanisms.
Helpful Information
Generation-Nano Concept
The scene takes place in the virtual Birck Nanotechnology Center, which announces a confidential program to prepare the next generation of nanoscientists. Users create their avatar, register as secret agents and complete several missions as part of their training program, by the end of which they are rewarded with a certificate from the real Birck Center. After completion of each mission, users advance to the next level and get access to the cleanroom and closed labs. On the way, they also collect treasures that they will need in the further missions.
Each individual task may be wrapped in its own little story involving people working in Birck. For example, the object sorting game in the first mission starts with Professor Ivanov dropping samples on the floor and asking users to help him sort them back on the scale.
As we move from the beta version of the website to the first public release, all placeholder videos currently published will be replaced by videos of real people working in Birck, and each mission will be introduced and guided by a subject expert from the Birck Center.
Technical Framework and Implementation
Though implementation of your storyboard in not required for your proposal submission and will later be performed by our development team, you are welcome to participate in the future development process, and should certainly be aware of the following technical specifications, when working on your storyboard design.
The core of the site is based on Adobe Flash technology, that works best for this graphics/video/animation- heavy project. Each activity is programmed separately in Action Script and loaded into the main swf file, which also talks to MySQL database for dynamic data, and records user progress and score. When started from mission task menu, an activity is usually accompanied by an introductory video explaining the task and science behind it.
When loaded, an activity takes up about two thrids of the screen. Feedback can be given via a 5-10 second external video on the left or from within the task area (e.g. in a hanging LCD screen). If your task involves scoring, you need to think of its presentation. The conductivity sorter game is a good example of how to approach this.
Other Tips
An activity you design can either be exploratory or competitive. In either case, it should require user interaction and be engaging to the user.
Finally, we wish to stress again that we highly encourage creative aproach to storyboard design. Regard the posted examples and tips on this page as recommendations rather than limitations to your creative ideas.
Activity Topics:
- Structure of Matter: All matter is composed of atoms that are in constant motion. Atoms interact with each other to form molecules. The next higher level of organization involves atoms, molecules or nanoscale structures interacting with each other to form nanoscale assemblies. The arrangement of the building blocks gives a material its properties.
- Size-Dependent Properties: The properties of matter can change with scale. In particular, as the size of a material approaches the nanoscale, it often exhibits unexpected properties that lead to new functionality.
- Forces: All interactions can be described by multiple types of forces, but the relative impact of these forces changes with scale. On the nanoscale, a range of electrical forces with varying strengths tends to dominate the interactions between objects.
- Self-Assembly: Under specific conditions, some materials can spontaneously assemble into organized structures. This process provides a useful means for manipulating matter at the nanoscale.
For more detailed information about these topics, refer to the Big Ideas of Nanoscience document in Chapter 3.