Gamers Solve Scientific Problems

How did gamers use the computer game Foldit to solve the protein folding mystery?
They created what it might look like and studied it.

Who can participate in this problem solving and be a player in Foldit?
Anyone with strong critical thinking skills can participate in the solution.

What can critical thinking do for science?
Critical thinking in people gives the opportunity to people who don't have a background in Bio-Chemistry to solve puzzles that have been bothering scientist for decades.

If you could solve a mystery through gaming for any kind of disease or illness in the world, what would it be?

all the Cancer there is, all types of them, with a 100% certainty that it would be cured for those people who have it.

Mini-Game

Do you play games in your free time?

Yes, I play the Wii or the Nintendo 64.

Which ones do you play and why are they your favorite?

I play Super Mario Bros, Epic Mickey and Kingdom Hearts

Does this topic give you a new perspective about playing games?

Yes, because I want my game to have good graphics the way these games do and that are very fun.

September 11th

How Old Were You on September 11th, 2001?
I was 3 years old on September 11th, 2001.
When did you first learn about the attacks and who explained the events to you?
I first remember learning about it when I was about 6 years old and that's when I was reading a book about the World Trade Center in New York, because I wanted to visit there, and when I asked my Dad about it he explained everything to me about what happened and who they thought or knew did it. Although he never told me why they did it, I guess he didn't know the reason why.
What kind of impact does this have on your life and your parents lives?
On my life I feel frightened to travel by airplanes in fear of it being hijacked by terrorists, and even afraid to visit places like the new World Trade Center they're building on Ground Zero.I think it effected my parents by traveling, being worried about my Brother and I and our school.
What was the Issue with this game?
The issue was that the game disrespected the people who were victims in 9/11 and re-enacted this horrid event making it impossible for you to click all the planes before they crashed into the Twin Towers.
How do you feel about it?
I feel that the people who thought it was disrespectful, were right, because it says that in the game that its nearly impossible to click all the planes trying to crash into the World Trade Center and no matter what one will slip by and hit the Twin Towers.
What is the problem with portraying on such an awful violent event through a video game?
I think there are countless problems with portraying and awful event through video games, because it could bring back bad memories for people who witnessed this event and be disrespectful towards people who had family or friends die in 9/11.
How can you make sure that your web games tell the whole story or teach a lesson in an honorable way?
By not re-enacting an event in a disrespectful way, the way the person did their game.
Maybe even giving an "In Loving Memory" quote for those people who died at the event or an "I'm Grateful to" people who are still risking their lives for us now.

2 Single Story 2011

"Danger of a Single Story"

-What does it mean to have a 'single story' about a place or community?

It means to have a preconceived notion about someone or somewhere. To only have one idea that you read or were told by someone that you just form an opinion on around.

-Describe a single story you have heard told about your community. What is missing from that story? How could people learn more about that community?

I've heard about how our community in the East Side of Austin isn't the safest because of gangs and violence all them time, but that doesn't go on everywhere in the East Side. What's missing is the fact that we are a good community and not all the people are in gangs and are caught up in drugs and violence. People could learn more by maybe visiting some parts of the East Side and finding out about our community as a whole and not just forming opinions on what they've heard from other people.

-Describe a single story you have heard about another community. How did you learn that story? How could you find out more about that community?

Well I've heard a lot about Africa and how it's really poor and really hot all the time and how the people are dying of poverty and sickness. I learned that story based on books and movies that all told tales that took place in Africa and how it's not a rich country. I could learn more by studying more about Africa and maybe traveling there and taking part in what they do and just see how there, it's no different than the USA but just a hotter climate in most places.

-How could a game let players experience many stories about a place or community?

A game could let people "travel" the world digitally and see what it's like in Africa, Europe, and Australia. Seeing how that continent or country or community is the same as any other and we shouldn't base our opinions on books and movies because not all of them are presenting present day communities.

1 Cyberbully 2011

How does the main character feel about using "Clicksters" in the beginningof the film?

She was all for it and excited because she was going to be able to talk to the boy she liked at school named: Scott.

What is her family situation? Her family situation is her parents are divorced and she lives with her Mother and younger Brother, Erik. She hardly talks to her Dad.

What type of friends does she have? She seems like she has trustworthy friends that are always there for her.

How does Taylor react to the mean comments people are posting about her? She gets upset and she gets to where she doesn't understand why people are messing with her. She also becomes Depressed.

Does she ever try to stop people from posting insults? What could she have Done?

She never tried to stop it, although she did try to ignore it, but it didn't help much. She could have blocked the user and reported it to the creator of the site or told a trusted adult.

What happened to Taylor's Clicksters account: It was hacked by her younder brother Erik.

What changes are seen in Taylor? She becomes Distant and depressed and even suicidal.