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Puzzle Theory

Brownbag Luncheon Series. Puzzle Theory. Elizabeth J. Pyatt ejp10@psu.edu. 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.

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Puzzle Theory

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  1. Brownbag Luncheon Series Puzzle Theory Elizabeth J. Pyatt ejp10@psu.edu

  2. 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

  3. Puzzles vs Games

  4. 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)

  5. 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

  6. Problem Sets vs Puzzles • Limited Answers, but NOT fun

  7. Adding Fun? Graphics • Graphics? • x+y+z= xyz = 6 + + = xx = 6

  8. ChemBlaster Evil Genius

  9. Russian Puzzle (Map of the США) • What is the Russian char for /p/ - ЛП Ш

  10. Real World Context • Write numbers 0-10 in terms of 2,0,1,1 (2011)e.g. 0 = 2+0-1-1 • http://mathforum.org/yeargames/ • Eng Quest: Learn new formulas to build better dams • Can you (tastefully) add • Flash Floods (Fluid Mechanics) • Dead Fish? Stranded Snakes? (Ecology) • “You’re Fired!” (Business)

  11. Adding Humor • Some Perils of Educational Games • /studɛnts so bɔrd, ðeplesaləter/ • /rəǰɛktəd bay æpləl ay-tunzstɔr/ • /bɔskæčəzyupleyɪŋ gem ɪnmitɪŋz/ • /bɔs wont givyuwirəmotbæk/

  12. Grammar “Nitemare”

  13. Control Difficulty Level • Fun = Not too easy • Although everyone enjoys easy homework • Fun = Not too hard • Fun for instructor may be too hard for students

  14. Fun with “Cheating”? • In entertainment puzzles, there is no penalty for: • A do-over • Peeking in the answer key • Getting help from a friend • Can we leverage this? • More practice? • Homework less difficult than practice • Do overs with partial credit?

  15. Add a Narrative • Construct Narrative with a series of puzzles • Demo Time! or Emergency Demo

  16. The “Tung Masters” • Linguistics students study languages on an extraterrestrial planet • Must pass through language academy (the Tung Master Institute) • Field Work Missions • Explain English grammar to local population • Learn new linguistic forms of local population • Determine related languages

  17. Motivation Paradox • Can accounting ever be fun? • If you said no, what will the students say?

  18. Some Online Puzzles • http://www.jigzone.com • http://www.physicsgames.net/ • http://www.coolmath-games.com/1-strategy-games-01.html • http://www.scottkim.com/education/tenways.html

  19. Emergency Demo

  20. Semi-Animated Dialogue

  21. Crime Scene

  22. Side Puzzle

  23. Some Assembly Required

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