Wednesday, March 13, 2024

031324WarmUp

Think you're smart? You know all of the facts?

Check it out @ Amazing Facts

Leave a comment on Slack!

Mr. DeMarco

Monday, March 11, 2024

031124WarmUp

Welcome to another year of GrokIt!

GrokIt originally appeared 2 years ago. While teaching at RHS, I conceived it as the digital equivalent of the Do Now or activator you may be used to other teachers giving to you to start the class.

Interestingly enough, I believe the blog has taken up a much more important role in my classes.

I envision using GrokIt as a hi-tech portal to get you and your energies focused on the class topics of the day by hyperlinking around the net to:

•discover state-of the-art technologies

•bump into some engaging topic

•just enjoy a fun and interesting website.

My hope is to try to kindle a spark of interest in computers and technology.

After all, the World Wide Web and everything in it was created by software developers, computer programmers, web designers, all kinds of techie people of which you are the next generation.

I also want to create a class community, a public forum from which you could express your opinions and see the opinions of others about these topics.

So here's today's GrokIt.

Online carbon calculators help users determine the amount of carbon emissions they (or their household) is responsible for introducing into the environment. This kind of interactive exercise can be a good language-development opportunity, as well as one for expanding content knowledge in either science or social studies.

Figure out how much carbon you are spewing into the atmosphere by using these tools:

https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/

https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Leave a comment!

Mr. DeMarco

Monday, March 4, 2024

030624WarmUp

Today's GrokIt:

More about EarSketch:

How to use EarSketch - YouTube

Leave a comment on Slack!

Mr. DeMarco

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

022924WarmUp

Today's GrokIt:

Now that you're all up to speed with Kodu, did you know there's a competition for the best Kodu game? 

Microsoft sponsors the Kodu Cup every year. Top prize: 5K!

Check it out @:

https://news.microsoft.com/2011/03/16/calling-all-kids-microsoft-opens-kodu-cup-video-game-design-competition/

https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2014/07/22/whohaswonthisyearsk/

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-announces-kodu-game-lab-competition

Leave a comment on Slack!

Mr. DeMarco

Monday, February 26, 2024

022824WarmUp

Today's GrokIt:

Think you can make a living as a video game developer? Here's some colleges and universities that offer advanced degrees in Video Game Design. Check it out:

https://www.collegerank.net/best-video-game-design-degree-programs/

https://successfulstudent.org/best-video-game-colleges/

https://www.gamedesigning.org/video-game-design-schools/

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/computer-science/game-simulation-development

Leave a comment on Slack!

Mr. DeMarco

Thursday, February 15, 2024

021624WarmUp

Today's GrokIt:

What's a deep fake?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepfake

Can you spot one a deepfake?

https://www.iproov.com/spot-deepfake-quiz

Leave a comment on Slack!

Mr. DeMarco

Friday, February 2, 2024

021424WarmUp

Today's GrokIt:

Some interesting Kodu videos:

How to make a football game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WIyNYNeNUg

How to create an underwater world:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSdr1JEVfjs

How to make a racing game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpJTBMe1I98

How to make pages:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-87g-mDfS7g

How to make a maze:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48BNpjmQ6d4

Leave a comment!

Mr. DeMarco