Study Guide: SLS Hackathon Sentence Scrambler Game

Overview of the Resource

This resource page on the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore website provides information about a specific project from the 2019 SLS (Singapore Student Learning Space) Hackathon. The project, created by Yumin Primary School (YPS), is a sentence scrambler game designed for English, Chinese, and Tamil languages. The page offers an embedded model of the game, translation information (though currently lacking entries), credits to the developers, and links to further resources, including a blog post about the hackathon. It also lists numerous other projects from various SLS Hackathons, showcasing a range of educational games and simulations developed using the Easy JavaScript Simulations (EjsS) framework.

Key Concepts

• SLS Hackathon: An event where participants (in this case, likely students and teachers) collaboratively develop educational resources for the Singapore Student Learning Space.
• Sentence Scrambler Game: A type of language learning game where words of a sentence are presented in a jumbled order, and the user needs to rearrange them to form a grammatically correct sentence.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): Educational materials and resources available freely for use, adaptation, and sharing.
• Open Source Physics @ Singapore: An initiative focused on creating and sharing open-source physics simulations and interactive resources for education.
• Easy JavaScript Simulations (EjsS): A software tool that allows users to create interactive simulations and applets using JavaScript.
• Interactive Learning Resources: Digital materials designed to engage learners actively through interaction, such as games and simulations.
• Multilingualism in Education: The use of multiple languages in the educational setting, as demonstrated by the game's availability in English, Chinese, and Tamil.
• Educational Games: Games designed with the primary purpose of learning, often making the learning process more engaging and enjoyable.

Review Questions (Short Answer)

1. What was the main focus of the SLS Hackathon project created by the YPS team?
2. In which three languages is the sentence scrambler game available?
3. What is the purpose of embedding the model of the sentence scrambler game on the webpage?
4. Who are credited for their contributions to the sentence scrambler game project?
5. What type of software or framework was likely used to develop the sentence scrambler game, based on the context of the website?
6. Besides the sentence scrambler, what other types of educational resources were developed during SLS Hackathons, as suggested by the list on the page?
7. What does OER stand for, and what are the key characteristics of such resources?
8. What might be the educational benefits of using a sentence scrambler game in language learning?
9. Where can one find more information about the commercial use license for the EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library?
10. What was the year in which the SLS Hackathon that produced the sentence scrambler game took place?

Answer Key (Short Answer)

1. The main focus of the SLS Hackathon project by the YPS team was the creation of a sentence scrambler game.
2. The sentence scrambler game is available in English, Chinese, and Tamil languages.
3. Embedding the model allows users to directly interact with and experience the sentence scrambler game on the webpage without needing to download or install anything.
4. The credits for the project mention an email address (protected from spambots), Francisco Esquembre, Felix J. Garcia Clemente, and the YPS Team.
5. Based on the numerous other listed projects and the website's affiliation with "Open Source Physics @ Singapore," the game was likely developed using the Easy JavaScript Simulations (EjsS) framework.
6. Other types of educational resources developed during SLS Hackathons included grammar games, math games, physics simulations (e.g., heat transfer, kinematics), sorting algorithm visualizations, and various interactive tools for different subjects.
7. OER stands for Open Educational Resources. Key characteristics include being freely available for use, adaptation, and sharing with little to no restrictions.
8. The educational benefits of a sentence scrambler game include improving understanding of sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.
9. Information about the commercial use license for the EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library can be found at the provided URL: https://www.um.es/fem/EjsWiki/Main/EJSLicense, and inquiries can be directed to fem@um.es.
10. The SLS Hackathon that produced the sentence scrambler game took place in 2019, as indicated by the blog post link (https://weelookang.blogspot.com/2019/06/sls-hackathon-by-yps-on-sentence.html).

Essay Format Questions

1. Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of using educational games, such as the sentence scrambler, in a multilingual learning environment like Singapore.
2. Analyze the role of open educational resources and open-source tools like Easy JavaScript Simulations in fostering innovation and collaboration in education, using the SLS Hackathon as a case study.
3. Evaluate the effectiveness of interactive simulations and games, as showcased by the various SLS Hackathon projects listed, in promoting student engagement and deeper understanding of different subjects.
4. Based on the provided resource page, what can be inferred about the goals and priorities of the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" initiative?
5. Considering the sentence scrambler game and the wide array of other projects listed, discuss the potential impact of events like the SLS Hackathon on the development and adoption of technology-enhanced learning resources in education.

Glossary of Key Terms

• Applet: A small application, often written in Java or JavaScript, designed to run within another application, typically a web browser.
• Embed: To integrate content, such as a video or interactive model, from one website or resource into another webpage.
• Hackathon: An event, typically lasting several hours to a few days, in which people collaborate intensively on software or hardware projects.
• HTML5: The latest evolution of the standard that defines the structure of web pages. It supports multimedia and interactive elements without the need for plugins.
• Interactive Simulation: A computer-based model that allows users to manipulate variables and observe the resulting changes in the system being modeled, facilitating active learning.
• JavaScript: A popular programming language commonly used to add interactivity and dynamic content to websites.
• Model (in this context): A digital representation or simulation of a concept, process, or game that users can interact with.
• Open Source: Software for which the original source code is made freely available and may be redistributed and modified.
• Singapore Student Learning Space (SLS): A national online learning platform in Singapore that provides students with access to a variety of educational resources and tools.
• Thermodynamic Systems: A specific part of the universe that is under consideration, separated from its surroundings by a real or imaginary boundary, often studied in physics.

Frequently Asked Questions about the SLS Hackathon and Resources

1. What was the main focus of the "SLS Hackathon by YPS on Sentence Scrambler for English Chinese and Tamil Game"?

The primary focus of this hackathon project was to develop an interactive game, a "Sentence Scrambler," designed to aid in language learning for English, Chinese, and Tamil. The game was likely intended to help users practice sentence construction and word order in these languages.

2. What is the Student Learning Space (SLS) mentioned in the context of these hackathon projects?

The Student Learning Space (SLS) is a national online learning platform in Singapore. These hackathon projects, including the Sentence Scrambler, were initiatives likely aimed at creating or showcasing interactive educational resources that could potentially be integrated into the SLS to enhance student learning experiences.

3. What kind of resources were developed during these SLS Hackathons?

The SLS Hackathons led to the creation of a wide variety of interactive digital resources, primarily in the form of JavaScript simulations and games. These resources covered diverse subjects, ranging from language learning (like the Sentence Scrambler) and mathematics (e.g., addition, subtraction, multiples, bubble sort) to science topics (e.g., heat loss, heat gain, kinematics, heat transfer, electromagnetism) and even economics and computer science concepts.

4. Who were the typical participants or target audience for these SLS Hackathons?

Based on the examples provided, the participants likely included educators (teachers and teams from various schools like Yumin Primary, Admiralty Primary, Crest Secondary, Woodlands Secondary, YIJC, EJC), possibly students, and individuals interested in developing educational technology resources. The resources created often seem targeted towards primary and secondary school students in Singapore.

5. What is the role of "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" in relation to these hackathons?

"Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" appears to be a platform or initiative that hosts and promotes the educational resources created during these SLS Hackathons, as well as other open educational materials, particularly in physics and related subjects. They provide a space for sharing and accessing these interactive tools for educational purposes.

6. Can these Sentence Scrambler and other hackathon resources be embedded into other webpages?

Yes, the provided text explicitly mentions the ability to "Embed this model in a webpage" and includes an iframe code snippet for the Sentence Scrambler. This suggests that many of the interactive resources created during these hackathons were designed to be easily integrated into other online learning platforms or websites.

7. What does the mention of "JavaScript Simulation Applet HTML5" indicate about the nature of these resources?

The frequent mention of "JavaScript Simulation Applet HTML5" indicates that these educational resources are built using web technologies. JavaScript enables interactivity and dynamic content within web browsers, while HTML5 provides the structure and content. The term "applet" suggests they are small, self-contained applications designed for a specific purpose within a web page. This makes them accessible on various devices without the need for special software installations.

8. Where can one find and potentially use these SLS Hackathon resources?

These resources appear to be hosted on the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" platform, likely accessible through their website (iwant2study.org and the linked blog). The listing of numerous hackathon projects and interactive simulations suggests a repository where educators and learners can find and utilize these open educational materials for teaching and learning.