Thanks to the bright sparks at Microsoft we now have another Student competition for us to sink our teeth into.

“We want you to make a short film. If you’ve got a favourite style or genre, we want you to embrace it! If you want to be a writer, director, actor, cinematographer or even sound engineer, then rise to your ambitions.
In support of young Australian talent, Microsoft wants to give students the opportunity to gain industry exposure and go head to head, film to film, against University, College and TAFE students Australia wide – with some pretty awesome prizes in the mix. “

Go now and check it out, while you’re at it have a look at the awesome prizes and tell your friends.

One of the sessions was named upon the countless questions to Microsoft and Students in general, “How do we get students through the door?” or “The Future Student”. I was fortunate enough to be able to present this session. However, I believe in the heat of the moment some of the key ideals were lost by some of those in attendance. And I mean only some.

I have a gift / curse where I can be passionate about nearly anything. But Technology Education and Technology in Education is where I’m at. I make no apologies if the truth hurt you, it doesn’t change the validity of my claims. However, I do want to clear some things up.

Because I’m studying Education and have been in a fair share of classrooms already, (as an external observer, engaged student and interactive teacher) I can see the problems faced by school students, high schools students and university students. I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not an expert, but to make the claim that “you don’t understand” is a complete cop out. DO NOT use me to mask your guilt of the roll you play in educational mediocrity.

In addition, “This has been the same for the last 20 years” is not an excuse. We don’t look at third world countries and say “well, i mean it’s been the same for so long now, might as well just get used to it”. There are people out there trying, they’re doing what they can to help. If anything, comments like this reflect poorly on you as a educator for recognising an issue and doing nothing about it, Not to mention the fact you are in the wrong session.

I started my discussion with “This isn’t a presentation, this is a call to action”. It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm from @CurtinUni And I’d love to see the results from the other Universities who got the message.

I do appreciate all forms of feedback, and if it wasn’t for some of the feedback on the day all would have been lost, however if you:

You want Ideas on how to use technology in education? Call me

You want ideas on how to use technology to achieve what i discussed? Call me

You want to brainstorm ways to remove mediocrity from our universities? Call me

You want to piss and moan because I told the truth? Bite Me.

Lucas.

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Going through the mass amounts of entrants to the Game Design category of the Imagine Cup its clear there are several problems amongst students who compete.

Allow me to vent / detail some of the problems found during the recent culling of entrants.

Read the guidelines

What is asked in the specifications is what is expected. If you don’t include a video, you’re gone. If you don’t include Instructions, or if it’s not in English, you’re gone.

The specifications for an entry to the imagine cup game design is explicit and can be found here: http://imaginecup.com/Downloads/DownloadableDocuments/GD/Imagine_Cup_2010_Game_Design_Rules_and_Regulations.pdf

Common problems encountered were:

· Videos missing in action

· No Documentation

· Non playable demo’s

· Non English documentation

I can’t understand how someone who’s gone to great effort to create a game for the imagine cup would fail to read and understand the expectations!

Your game may be the next halo, but we’re not going to even see it if those criteria aren’t met.

Answer the question

As a lot of lecturers or teachers will tell anyone walking into an exam, make sure you answer the question being asked. And for many of the entrants I witness this was simply not the case.

There was one entrant who submitted a basic todolist application built in C#. wtf? Upload accident or miss interpretation of the guidelines… We’ll never know.

The Guidelines are very specific in regards to what needs to be achieved / demonstrated in the game. You’re only wasting everyone’s time if you fail to read, understand and embrace the expectations.

Video Encoding

Again, as stated in the rulebook: “Include a video screen capture of your game in action. The video should be no more than 15 minutes long”.

That doesn’t mean it also has to be 300mb. Encode wisely! There’s nothing worse than getting your hopes up about a potentially awesome game that’s over 300mb big, if when we look inside the zip file the video is 295mb and the game is only 5mb. It’s not a huge thing, but it can be disheartening for the Judge…

Also, how many YouTube videos have you seen that are 295mb? If they can do it in <30mb so can you! Your game has to include a video, but you can have it hosted on YouTube! This is a fantastic idea as it creates exposure to your game that you wouldn’t have had before. Even if you don’t win the imagine cup, chances are Microsoft groups such as @ImagineCupUS and @MSAU may even promote your game to their legion of followers (It happened this year). That’s exposure a budding game developer can really use.

Multi-Function

As stated in the rules and guidelines: “The game must be designed for the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming system, or Microsoft Windows Operating Systems (Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, or Windows 7) and playable on a Windows PC, as specified in the XNA Game Studio Toolkit, for the purposes of judging. Include controls to use both an xbox controller and a keyboard”

So… why were there several interesting games with high potential that caused frustration when it wasn’t possible to actually use them with a keyboard? It’s only a few lines of code extra! Why would any game developer in this situation limit their application to one console anyway? We’ve all seen the video demonstration from Teched, with the one game working on Windows, Xbox and Phone 7. It’s the future of gaming; why not get in on it now?

It’s all been done before, but!

So many people stick with the whole “Halo Wars” or “Age of Empires” approach, but it’s all been done before. This is not to say that you’re any less deserved of winning the imagine cup but it’s all been done before! The Imagine Cup is about inspiring the imagination and creating masterpieces of art and gaming revolutions. Don’t play it easy, think abstract. Some of the ones that were awarded the highest marks in Stage 1 are the most abstract concepts conceivable, but you’ll see them all eventually.

Microsoft does not want to steal your ideas!

I’ve witnessed several people go off on tangents as to why they didn’t enter because of Intellectual Property. Long story short, you’re wrong.

It’s your software Microsoft is just helping you get recognized. The terms and conditions are just a formality to allow your videos to be used / promoted by Microsoft. Microsoft has nil interest in stealing or infringing on your intellectual property, your designs, games, thoughts, whatever possible excuse you have.

So just No. Ok?

I feel better now!

Lucas.

Microsoft Flashcards uses the newest Microsoft technology to provide a tool that actively engages students in assisting content revision. Why use normal flashcards when you can use Microsoft Flashcards?

MS Flashcards is a silverlight application built on the Azure (cloud) platform which allows you to create, share and study flashcards online. You can create your own unique deck of 300 cards that contain any number of images or text combinations.

MS Flashcards keeps track of all of your cards, The ones you got right and the ones you got wrong, as well as how long since you saw it last. Using this information it then creates a unique algorithm to determine which card should be shown to you next. While Flashcards can be seen as a lower order thinking task, it still is high in engagement. It would also assist in encouraging students to self regulate their learning.

The three different modes allow you to review the flashcards you’ve created. the questions / answers.

• Review will allow you to flip through both questions and answers as present together.
• Study will allow you to think before you “flip” the card to reveal the answer.
• Type it In will allow you to type in what you believe the answer is.

MS Flashcards can be incorporated into any classroom revision session right now. However it would benefit from the inclusion into Moddle software. This would mean that educators wouldn’t be reliant on the student to login / print their report.

At the moment, the inbuilt reporting functions are sufficient for preliminary inclusion. But, don’t forget. It’s still in beta.

Check back here in the next couple of days for information on the 2010 PowerPoint quiz / exam plug-in and more info on the inclusion of windows live in Moodle software.

Lucas.

However this will be more aimed at the Education Sector and how within education we can use some Microsoft technologies to promote learning and increase engagement in the classroom.

EXCITED?!??!!!?!!?!?!?!?

I am…

Lucas.

The winning entry will be awarded with one month’s paid work experience at Microsoft where you will be mentored by leading executives and see your ideas brought to life!

For more information, check out www.microsoft.com.au/protege and tune in/subscribe to Protégé TV www.youtube.com/tvprotege for the weekly inside scoop on updates, giveaways and tips that you won’t get anywhere else!

If it was any more awesome you may just explode.

If you’re interested in more information about office 2010 head to: http://www.lucasmoffitt.com/?p=181

Lucas

Lucas.

Remix is one of Australia’s premier Web Technology events held by Microsoft. This year, there is a fantastic opportunity at Remix for some students to get on board with special projects. The guys in charge would like to see the community, including students, work on special projects leading up to Remix and present them at the event.

This is a great opportunity get some industry experience and get your name or brand out there

In Michael’s words:

“Think, what crazy cool and amazing stuff would you love to see as part of the REMIX experience… on location, during the event, post the event, on the site, on the social medias, the sky’s the limit.”

There’s more info on Michael’s blog. Please read here http://delicategeniusblog.com/?p=902

Lucas

I’ve promoted the It’s Not Cheating program before where you can purchase a copy of Office Ultimate 2007 for only $75AUD just because you’re a student.

Well you’re in luck. If you purchase a copy of Office 2007 between 5th of March 2010 and the 30th of September 2010 you’ll receive a free copy of Office 2010 when it’s available.

That is Pants Off Amazing!.

Soooooo… Don’t sit there, go get it! http://www.itsnotcheating.com.au

P.s If you’re as excited as I about this then you can get some posters or handouts by sending me an Email! Lucas.Moffitt [@] Student.Partners.com.au!

Laurence Moroney takes the seemingly difficult and turns it into Lego blocks that even the most confused developers can understand.

“Introducing Microsoft Silverlight 3” makes it easy.

With his help and this book you can:

• Create your first simple sites
• Build applications that run out of the browser
• Use XAML to render, scale, and animate graphics on-screen
• Work with Silverlight Tools for Visual Studio
• Explore core and advanced controls—and build your own
• Exploit new graphics support—3-D effects, H.264 video, GPU acceleration
• Experiment with media, ink, DeepZoom, and Photosynth
• Access data services to build connected applications
• Dynamically add content using Ruby and Python
• Manage Silverlight applications from ASP.NET–based servers
• Learn how to deliver DRM-protected video content

This book is best aimed at those who are new to Silverlight and are interested in learning about what it is and how it works, those if you who are seasoned professionals most probably wont take anything away from it.

I personally think sketchflow is the greatest invention since sliced bread. But that may just be me.

Regardless of that it’s a great way to get into Silverlight 3 and the cool new features of Expression Studio (Available to Students for free by the way @ Dreamspark)

Lucas

Visit – http://www.mspress.com.au today