Puzzle Theory
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description
Brownbag Luncheon Series. Puzzle Theory. Elizabeth J. Pyatt [email protected]. What’s a puzzle? . Defining puzzle A puzzle is fun It has a right answer (or maybe 2) –Scott Kim ( http://www.scottkim.com ) Also Can be played alone or collaboratively Can be timed or untimed. Puzzles vs Games. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Puzzle Theory
What’s a puzzle?
Defining puzzleoA puzzle is funo It has a right answer (or maybe 2)
–Scott Kim (http://www.scottkim.com) Also
oCan be played alone or collaborativelyoCan be timed or untimed
Puzzles vs Games
Games PuzzlesMultiple SolutionsOpponents (person, computer)Formal Rules
Puzzles can be incorporated into games (particularly “quests”)Games should be fun
Limited solutionsSolo play commonFormal Rules common, but not required
Puzzles should be fun
Common Puzzle Types
Word Puzzles Math Puzzles (some solitaire here) Logic Puzzles (many card solitaire here) Trivia Puzzles Visual Puzzles (e.g. jigsaw) 3D & Mechanical Puzzles “Lateral Thinking” (think outside the
box)
Puzzles in Real Life
Assembling a prehistoric pot Find the shortest trucking route
between multiple destinations Deciphering an ancient text Probability that it will snow today Optimal furniture placement in an office How big a fan does my dorm room need Calculate no. PSU workers by county
Problem Sets vs Puzzles
Limited Answers, but NOT fun
Adding Fun? Graphics
Graphics?o x+y+z = xyz = 6
+ + =
x x = 6
Chem Blaster Evil Genius
Russian Puzzle (Map of the США)
What is the Russian char for /p/ - Л П Ш
Real World Context
Write numbers 0-10 in terms of 2,0,1,1 (2011)e.g. 0 = 2+0-1-1 o http://mathforum.org/yeargames/
Eng Quest: Learn new formulas to build better dams
Can you (tastefully) add o Flash Floods (Fluid Mechanics)oDead Fish? Stranded Snakes? (Ecology)o “You’re Fired!” (Business)
Adding Humor
Some Perils of Educational Gameso /studɛnts so bɔrd, ðe ple saləter/o /rəǰɛktəd bay æpləl ay-tunz stɔr/o /bɔs kæčəz yu pleyɪŋ gem ɪn mitɪŋz/o /bɔs wont giv yu wi rəmot bæk/
Grammar “Nitemare”
Control Difficulty Level
Fun = Not too easyoAlthough everyone enjoys easy
homework Fun = Not too hard
o Fun for instructor may be too hard for students
Fun with “Cheating”?
In entertainment puzzles, there is no penalty for:oA do-overo Peeking in the answer keyoGetting help from a friend
Can we leverage this?oMore practice?oHomework less difficult than practiceoDo overs with partial credit?
Add a Narrative
Construct Narrative with a series of puzzles
Demo Time! or Emergency Demo
The “Tung Masters”
Linguistics students study languages on an extraterrestrial planet
Must pass through language academy (the Tung Master Institute)
Field Work Missionso Explain English grammar to local
populationo Learn new linguistic forms of local
populationoDetermine related languages
Motivation Paradox
Can accounting ever be fun?
o If you said no, what will the students say?
Some Online Puzzles
http://www.jigzone.com http://www.physicsgames.net/ http://www.coolmath-games.com/1-st
rategy-games-01.html http://www.scottkim.com/education/t
enways.html
Emergency Demo
Semi-Animated Dialogue
Crime Scene
Side Puzzle
Some Assembly Required
