1. Main Theme: A Constrained Variation of the Knight's Tour Game for Educational Purposes

The central theme across both sources is the presentation of a modified Knight's Tour game designed with specific educational goals in mind. Unlike the traditional game where a knight must visit every square on a chessboard exactly once, this version introduces the constraint that the knight can only land on pre-defined squares marked with stars. Furthermore, each star can only be visited once. The objective shifts from completing a full tour to achieving the highest score possible by strategically planning a route that maximizes the number of visited star squares.

2. Key Features and Mechanics:

• Star-Based Movement: The most significant deviation from the standard Knight's Tour is the restriction on movement. The game explicitly states, "In this version, the knight can only land on the squares demarcated with a star, with the knight only being able to land on each star once." (Source 2)
• Scoring System: The objective is to "obtain the highest score possible." (Source 2). This implies that each landed star likely contributes to the player's score. The exact scoring mechanism is not detailed in these excerpts but is a crucial element of the gameplay.
• No Hints: The title of the applet explicitly mentions "no hint," suggesting that the player must independently strategize and determine the valid knight moves to land on the star squares. This encourages independent problem-solving.
• Interactive HTML5 JavaScript Applet: The game is implemented as an HTML5 JavaScript applet, making it readily accessible through web browsers without the need for additional plugins. The embed code provided ("<iframe width="100%" height="100%" src="https://iwant2study.org/lookangejss/math/ejss_model_knight_star_to_star_no_hint/knight_star_to_star_no_hint_Simulation.xhtml " frameborder="0"></iframe>") in the second source confirms its web-based nature.
• Initial State: The second source mentions the "Initial state of the game" and provides a link to access it, indicating a defined starting configuration of the chessboard and the star placements.

3. Educational Objectives:

The primary goal of this game variation is to enhance students' cognitive skills, specifically:

• Strategic Planning: The game encourages players to "actively plan out their route" (Source 2) to maximize the number of stars visited and thus their score.
• Critical Judgement: By requiring players to identify valid moves within the star constraints and evaluate potential paths, the game aims at "facilitating their critical judgement." (Source 2)
• Problem-Solving: Without hints, players must rely on their understanding of the knight's movement and logical reasoning to navigate the board and achieve the highest possible score.

4. Authorship and Licensing:

Both sources credit the development of the game and its underlying concept:

• Idea by: Theresa Heng
• Development and Compilation: Shaun Quek, Loo Kang Wee, Francisco Esquembre, Félix Jesús Garcia Clemente.
• Software Used: Compiled with EJS 6.1 BETA (201115).
• License: Released under a specified license (mentioned in the first source, details not fully provided in the excerpt). The second source indicates that the contents are licensed under the "Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License," with a separate license mentioned for commercial use of the EasyJavaScriptSimulations Library (EJS).

5. Context and Platform:

The "Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star no hint HTML5 JavaScript Applet by Theresa" is hosted on the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" platform. This context suggests that the game is intended to be a freely available educational tool within a broader collection of physics and mathematics resources. The breadcrumbs provided in the second source ("Home > Interactive Resources > Physics > 02 Newtonian Mechanics > 08 Gravity > 🍎7.2 Gravitational Field JavaScript HTML5 Applet Simulation Model > Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star no hint HTML5 JavaScript Applet by Theresa") are somewhat misleading as the game itself is mathematical/game-based rather than directly related to Newtonian Mechanics or Gravity as the path suggests. This might indicate a categorization error on the platform or a broader scope of "Interactive Resources."

6. Technical Implementation:

• HTML5 and JavaScript: The game is built using HTML5 and JavaScript, ensuring cross-platform compatibility and easy integration into web pages.
• Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS): The first source explicitly states that the game was "Compiled with EJS 6.1 BETA (201115)." EJS is an open-source tool that allows for the creation of interactive simulations and applets using Java and JavaScript. The second source also refers to it ("Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations Toolkit").

7. Related Resources and Information:

The second source provides several links and pieces of related information:

• Embed Code: Facilitates easy integration of the game into other web pages.
• Translations: Suggests potential for localization of the game interface (though no specific translations are listed in the excerpt).
• Sample Learning Goals: Indicates that predefined learning objectives are associated with the game (the actual text of these goals is not provided).
• For Teachers Section: Highlights that the resource is specifically intended for educators, providing a description of the game and its educational value.
• Version Link: Provides a link to another version of the game ("https://iwant2study.org/lookangejss/math/ejss_model_knight_star_to_star/"), possibly with different features or difficulty levels.
• Extensive List of Other Interactive Resources: The long list of items following the FAQ section showcases the breadth of educational applets and simulations available on the "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore" platform, indicating a rich environment for interactive learning tools.

8. Conclusion:

The "Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star" variation presents a compelling and educationally focused adaptation of a classic puzzle. By restricting the knight's movement to starred squares and emphasizing score maximization, the game actively promotes strategic thinking, critical judgment, and problem-solving skills. The use of HTML5 and JavaScript, facilitated by the EJS toolkit, ensures accessibility and ease of integration into online learning environments. This resource, developed by the credited authors based on Theresa Heng's idea, contributes to the growing collection of open educational resources aimed at enhancing student engagement and cognitive development through interactive gameplay. Further exploration of the actual game interface and scoring mechanism would provide a more comprehensive understanding of its pedagogical potential.

Knight's Star Tour Study Guide

Overview: This study guide is designed to help you review the key concepts and details related to the "Knight Strategy game to maximise moves landing on stars only" and the "Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star no hint HTML5 JavaScript Applet by Theresa." It covers the game's objective, mechanics, educational goals, and technical information.

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each.

1. What is the primary objective of the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star?
2. According to the provided text, what is a key constraint on the knight's movement in this specific version of the game?
3. What is the intended educational benefit for students who play the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star?
4. Who are the credited individuals behind the development of the game and the underlying idea?
5. What type of interactive resource is the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star, in terms of its technical format?
6. Where can the embedded version of the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star applet be found?
7. What does the game aim to help students actively develop through gameplay?
8. Under what license is the "Knight Strategy game to maximise moves landing on stars only" released?
9. In the context of the provided text, what does "EJS 6.1 BETA (201115)" refer to?
10. Besides Mathematics and Games, under what broader subject category is the "Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star" listed?

Quiz Answer Key

1. The primary objective of the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star is to achieve the highest possible score by strategically moving a knight across a board. This is done by landing only on squares marked with a star.
2. A key constraint in this version of the game is that the knight can only land on squares that are demarcated with a star. Furthermore, the knight is allowed to land on each star only a single time during the game.
3. The intended educational benefit is to encourage students to actively plan out their route in order to maximize their score. This process is designed to facilitate and enhance their critical judgment skills.
4. Shaun Quek, Loo Kang Wee, Francisco Esquembre, and Félix Jesús Garcia Clemente are credited with the development of the game. The idea for the game is credited to Theresa Heng.
5. The Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star is an HTML5 JavaScript Applet. This indicates that it is an interactive simulation designed to run in web browsers.
6. The embedded version of the applet can be found via an iframe with the source URL: https://iwant2study.org/lookangejss/math/ejss_model_knight_star_to_star_no_hint/knight_star_to_star_no_hint_Simulation.xhtml.
7. The game aims to help students actively develop their route planning skills. This strategic thinking is directly linked to facilitating the development of their critical judgment abilities.
8. The "Knight Strategy game to maximise moves landing on stars only" is released under a specified license, as indicated by the phrase "Released under a license." The exact nature of this license would need to be determined by consulting the full source document.
9. "EJS 6.1 BETA (201115)" refers to the Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations Toolkit version 6.1, beta release from November 15, 2011. This software was used to compile the "Knight Strategy game to maximise moves landing on stars only."
10. Besides Mathematics and Games, the "Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star" is also listed under the subject category of E2K.

Essay Format Questions

1. Discuss the relationship between game design and the development of critical thinking skills, using the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star as a specific example. How does the game's objective and constraints encourage strategic planning and decision-making?
2. Analyze the roles of the credited individuals in the creation and dissemination of the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star. What can be inferred about the collaborative nature of developing open educational resources based on this example?
3. Explore the significance of making educational resources like the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star available as HTML5 JavaScript applets. What are the advantages of this format for accessibility and integration into online learning environments?
4. Based on the description and learning goals of the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star, how could educators effectively integrate this game into their mathematics curriculum? What specific learning objectives could it help to achieve?
5. Considering the licensing information provided, discuss the implications of using and potentially adapting open educational resources like the Knight's Tour Game - Star to Star. What are the benefits and potential considerations for educators and developers?

Glossary of Key Terms

• Knight's Tour: A mathematical problem involving moving a knight on a chessboard such that it visits every square exactly once.
• HTML5 JavaScript Applet: An interactive program written using HTML5 (HyperText Markup Language, version 5) and JavaScript that can be embedded and run in web browsers without the need for additional plugins.
• Open Educational Resources (OER): Teaching, learning, and research materials that are available freely online for anyone to use, adapt, and share.
• Critical Judgement: The ability to analyze information objectively and make reasoned decisions based on that analysis. In the context of the game, it refers to planning moves effectively to achieve the highest score.
• Maximise: To increase something to the greatest possible amount or degree. In the game, the objective is to maximise the score.
• Constraints: Limitations or restrictions. In the game, constraints include only landing on star-marked squares and landing on each star only once.
• Interactive Resource: A digital material that allows the user to actively engage with the content, often involving actions and responses within the resource itself.
• Embed: To insert or integrate an object or content (like an applet) into another medium, such as a webpage.
• License: A formal permission to do something that would otherwise be prohibited, often specifying the terms and conditions of use, distribution, and modification.
• EJS (Easy Java/JavaScript Simulations Toolkit): A free authoring tool used to create interactive simulations and applets, often for educational purposes in physics and mathematics.