Briefing Document: Big Bang Legends App and Open Source Physics Resources
1. Introduction
This document provides an overview of the "Big Bang Legends" app and the larger Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore project, based on the provided website excerpt. The aim is to understand the context of the app and the educational philosophy driving its creation and promotion.
2. Big Bang Legends App Overview
- Purpose: The "Big Bang Legends" app is a free-to-play educational puzzle game designed to teach elementary particle physics concepts using the theme of the Big Bang.
- Gameplay: The app features:
- "Atom Heroes" that players collect.
- Puzzles and mazes to solve.
- Battles against antimatter.
- Target Audience: The game is described as "elementary particle physics inspired," suggesting a primary or secondary school audience. It is designed to be engaging with the fun gameplay element.
- Development Team: It was developed by the creators of the Angry Birds games and animation.
- Platform Availability: Initially available only on iOS, the source mentions a planned Android release.
- Promotion: This app is shared through the Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore digital library.
Key Takeaways:
- Gamification of Physics: The app leverages the engaging nature of puzzle games to teach complex physics concepts.
- Accessibility: The app is free-to-play, making it widely accessible.
3. Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore Initiative
The excerpt comes from a much larger resource, "Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore." This website appears to be a hub for a wide variety of educational tools, resources and events for the teaching of physics and other subjects. Here are the key themes and important facts:
- Focus: The platform heavily focuses on interactive simulations and modeling tools, especially using JavaScript, HTML5, and WebGL technologies. The resources cover a broad spectrum of science and math topics from Primary level to Junior College (highschool) level.
- Open Source: The project heavily emphasizes "Open Source," indicating a commitment to free and accessible educational materials. The site mentions several times the Open Source Physics initiative.
- Resource Types: The website offers a vast array of educational materials, including:
- JavaScript/HTML5 Applets: These are interactive simulations covering topics such as mechanics, electricity, magnetism, optics, quantum physics, thermodynamics, and mathematics. This is a prominent offering, with countless simulations listed.
- Tracker Videos: The platform utilizes the "Tracker" software to analyze videos, creating models, and visualizing data.
- Interactive Models: These range from basic math models (e.g., "Primary School Numbers from 1 to 100") to advanced physics models.
- Software tools and app development resources
- Information about workshops, events and lectures
- Translations
- Technology Emphasis: The website highlights the use of specific technologies like:
- Easy JavaScript/Java Simulations (EJS/EJSS): This is a recurring technology, suggesting a powerful tool at the core of the initiative. This also implies that the team actively contributes to and modifies these open tools.
- JavaScript, HTML5, WebGL for web-based simulations.
- Tracker for video analysis and modeling.
- Community and Collaboration: There's an emphasis on collaboration as the workshops are often led by multiple international professors and contributors. Many named individuals and institutions (like edulab@AST) suggest community.
- Awards and Recognition: The initiative has received multiple awards, including a UNESCO prize, Ministry of Education awards, and Public Service awards. This indicates the project's impact and recognition within the education community.
- Licensing: The content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 Singapore License, with separate licensing for commercial use of EasyJavaScriptSimulations.
- Breadth of Subject Matter: While physics dominates, the platform also features resources for math and chemistry, indicating a wider scope of subject matter.
4. Important Quotes From the Source
- Regarding the Big Bang Legends App: "An elementary particle physics inspired puzzler featuring the smallest of superheroes - the Atoms! Collect Atom Heroes, solve puzzles and mazes, and battle with the antimatter!" This quote clearly explains the game's core mechanics and its educational premise.
- Regarding the Open Source Physics project: "Open Source Physics at Singapore Ministry of Education GOLD Innergy Award 2016 HQ" - This quote indicates that the Open Source Physics initiative is of high standing and recognised by official educational authorities.
5. Synthesis and Implications
- Integration of Technology and Gamification: The "Big Bang Legends" app is one example of how this platform is embracing technology and gamification to make learning more engaging and effective. The large number of interactive applets is evidence of this.
- Open Educational Resources Philosophy: The initiative is firmly grounded in the principles of open education.
- Focus on Interactive Learning: The emphasis on simulations and models suggests an active learning approach, encouraging students to explore concepts rather than just passively receive information.
- Teacher Support and Training: The inclusion of workshops, events and software documentation indicates an understanding that teachers need training and resources to effectively use such tech.
- Potential Reach: The extensive collection of resources is clearly meant to be shared and accessed by a wide range of students and educators, both inside Singapore and further afield.
6. Conclusion
The "Big Bang Legends" app is a small part of a much larger ecosystem of open educational resources. The Open Educational Resources / Open Source Physics @ Singapore project is a robust effort to create freely accessible and technologically advanced tools for teaching and learning science and math. The project is characterized by its commitment to interactive simulations, open source principles, and collaboration among educators and researchers. It represents a significant effort to make science education more engaging, accessible, and effective.
This should provide a good overview based on the material provided.
Happened to have a meeting with the guys who made the bigbanglegends App and since it is a free to play app, why not share it on the digital library with all our readers!
For Teachers
An elementary particle physics inspired puzzler featuring the smallest of superheroes - the Atoms! Collect Atom Heroes, solve puzzles and mazes, and battle with the antimatter!
From the makers of Angry Birds' games and animation, discover the Big Bang Legends' universe!
From the makers of Angry Birds' games and animation, discover the Big Bang Legends' universe!
Software Requirements
iOS only https://itunes.apple.com/fi/app/big-bang-legends/id1148616806?mt=8
Android may be release mid 2017.
Video
Credits
LIGHTNEER http://www.lightneer.com/
FAQ
- What is Big Bang Legends? Big Bang Legends is a free-to-play mobile game, available currently on iOS, designed as an elementary particle physics puzzler. It features the concept of "Atom Heroes" that players collect, and incorporates puzzle and maze-solving elements alongside battles with antimatter, set in a universe inspired by the Big Bang. It's created by LIGHTNEER, the makers of the Angry Birds games and animation.
- Who is the intended audience for Big Bang Legends? While not explicitly stated, given its puzzle-based gameplay and theme of elementary particle physics with "Atom Heroes," it is likely targeted at a younger audience, possibly elementary through junior college levels. The game is inspired by the world of physics but is designed to be accessible and engaging, blending education with entertainment.
- What type of gameplay does Big Bang Legends feature? The game involves collecting "Atom Heroes," solving puzzles and navigating mazes. It also incorporates battle mechanics where players combat antimatter. These elements suggest a hybrid of collection, strategy, and puzzle game mechanics, set in a physics-inspired universe.
- What is "Open Source Physics at Singapore" and what resources do they offer? "Open Source Physics at Singapore" appears to be an organization or initiative focused on providing free educational resources, especially in physics. Their offerings include a variety of interactive simulations, applets, and models on diverse physics concepts. These resources use platforms such as JavaScript and HTML5, making them accessible on various devices. They also host workshops and public lectures to encourage the use of these resources in teaching.
- What kinds of interactive simulations are provided by "Open Source Physics at Singapore"? The simulations cover a very broad range of physics topics, from mechanics (e.g., projectile motion, collisions, pendulums, friction) to electromagnetism (e.g., magnetic fields, electric currents, motors) and optics (e.g., lenses, diffraction). They also delve into more advanced concepts such as wave phenomena, quantum mechanics, and astrophysics (e.g., Kepler orbits, satellite motion). These simulations are designed for different educational levels, from primary school to junior college.
- What are Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS) and how are they used within this context? Easy JavaScript Simulations (EJS) is a tool used to create the interactive simulations and models available on the "Open Source Physics at Singapore" platform. EJS enables the creation of educational content that can be deployed across different platforms, allowing students and teachers to interact with and explore complex physics concepts. It is also used for conversions and reconstructions of pre-existing simulations, emphasizing its role as a versatile authoring tool.
- How is Open Source Physics at Singapore connected to education and educators? Open Source Physics at Singapore is explicitly designed for educators. It provides tools and resources for teachers to create more interactive, hands-on learning experiences in their classrooms. The site details workshops, public lectures, and projects that aim to help educators utilize these open source physics simulations effectively in their teaching practice. There is also evidence of teacher learning communities being used as support for implementing open source physics.
- What other subjects besides physics are covered by "Open Source Physics at Singapore"? While the primary focus is on physics, the platform also provides some resources for other subjects, especially related to math (e.g., Primary Mathematics models, numbers properties, data fitting), chemistry (e.g., titrations, equilibrium), and also other topics including general science for primary school levels (e.g. light, shadows, friction). This suggests a broader interest in providing tools for STEM education, particularly for visualization and simulation.