school system

[delinquent]

[quote=2020]Coding in school[/quote]

A basis for extended mathematics and syntax lessons too, or is that a bit advanced?

[2020]

Funnily enoug, Delinquent, I have just been suggesting coding as a possible subject to study. Initial response is to start a code club, but I think students would benefit if they had it as part of the curriculum, given the overlap of math and english. Just now, kids are doing GCSE well below their math ability while their english language languishes. They extend into a-level material, which is a waste of time imho, and could do with broadening their understanding through application in coding. Could be a real win situation for the school and the organisation as a whole. And I am suggesting a method of study which is student-driven, otherwise it will fall back to the usual format that teaching takes, which is to kill most self-directed study and hence the real joy of exploration. Because it is an independent school in transition, there is a real opportunity to take a risk and implement new pedagogical methodology. And arma as an open source game with an open community of players and coders, with a three level enagagement with coding, may prove to be a pleasant environment for them to explore. We shall see...

[delinquent]

Wait, perhaps you should begin with the club. That way, you get to see and prove the results of the teaching method that you use, giving clear insight into how it can be integrated into the curriculum, whilst retaining the "open source" style of learning. Perhaps your first project could be to design a simple program. No added constraints, such as required functions or results, just to design a program that does something, and works every time. The marking structure would be based on the decompiled program itself, how the language is written and what arrangement has been used. Another marking structure could be based on initiative used, for example: code used in ways other than intended - "Printto" as opposed to "print".

[2020]

Luckily there is a more competent programmer in the school, otherwise this would be a dead duck in the water. We are discussing various options next week regarding coding.

As for getting arma in the school, here's what the head has said internally:

No I am not going to go having a long conversation with some game techies. Or give them any access to our systems.

The game is blocked by by our web blocking system, opendns

It will let through any web address that I tell it to.

All I need is the web address that they are trying to log into. I will enter it and it will let them through.

Or if it takes more than that I don't want to do it.

I can see his position. Remember it is a small school and the techie has gone leaving him with admin duties. Is this resolvable? And is the school client and master up and running? Can I get a few kids play-testing it before I leave in a few weeks?

[Z-Man]

And is the school client and master up and running?

Yep, the master is up again and should work with the client build from years past. I should be able to produce more up-to-date builds shortly.

The game is blocked by by our web blocking system, opendns

That's a bit cryptic,but if I understand correctly, it's easy enough. It doesn't block anything at all, just prevents DNS lookups of unwanted hostnames. We can bypass that with raw IPs if we have to.

It will let through any web address that I tell it to.
All I need is the web address that they are trying to log into. I will enter it and it will let them through.

That would be "armagetron.kicks-ass.net". Yes, I'm as embarrassed as I should be about that choice now. On second though, hold that for a minute, I need to check whether the school client uses that precise domain or the alias "master1.armagetronad.net". Hmm, to be on the safe side, let's add the second possible master I may set up alongside the first. Full list:

Code: Select all

armagetron.kicks-ass.net
simamo.de
master1.armagetronad.net
master2.armagetronad.net

And of those, just the first two if the headmaster wants to keep the regular client and game blocked (the old school client build may fail then, too).

[2020]

Shall we hold on until we've checked it ourselves and you are happy with the address? Or shall I go ahead and give him the first two?

[Z-Man]

I'll better check first.

[delinquent]

2020: Ask him if he's looking for a technician, it's the perfect position for me and I don't require an exorbitant wage. Actually, would you be willing to forward a CV to him?

Desperate for work 2k12

[2020]

I'd like to, but my situation is not secure -- depend on the results with the kids. If things go well, I'll certainly recommend should the time and opportunity arise.

Can't offer work, per se, but will pay for the first iteration of a simple data-base and ui. Have a look at http://ecosquared.info and if it is of interest, happy to do a scoping session to see how difficult/easy it is and what a minimal build might be.

[Z-Man]

Checked. "armagetron.kicks-ass.net" is the only DNS name we need unlocked, the existing build already uses just that. That would give us regular network play. "simamo.de" would be a nice bonus for a backup master.
What that does not give us: automatic resource downloads (add "resource.armagetronad.net" and "resource.aa.dashjr.org" to the list if you want that, mention that this particular repository is curated and we don't have inappropriately shaped maps) and sensible authentication with servers running on the school network (complicated, authorities need to be unlocked individually. But servers outside of the school network will be fine.)

[2020]

Checked. "armagetron.kicks-ass.net" is the only DNS name we need unlocked, the existing build already uses just that. That would give us regular network play. "simamo.de" would be a nice bonus for a backup master.
What that does not give us: automatic resource downloads (add "resource.armagetronad.net" and "resource.aa.dashjr.org" to the list if you want that, mention that this particular repository is curated and we don't have inappropriately shaped maps) and sensible authentication with servers running on the school network (complicated, authorities need to be unlocked individually. But servers outside of the school network will be fine.)

Not sure what the last bit means, but I shall pass on "armagetron.kicks-ass.net. To confirm, this is the minimum to get the game playable. This means the kids download a school version, and they will have access to the school master server. And we have one hosted fortress server on there.

Regarding authentication, we do not need this now, am I correct? In the future, how will this work? All I know is that on some servers I need to put in my password for this forum. I will need a talk through about how this works, and what the head needs to enable this.

[Z-Man]

Regarding authentication, we do not need this now, am I correct?

Yep, correct.

In the future, how will this work?

For servers we host, authentication itself will just work; the clients only talk to the game server. However, a problem is that authentication requires accounts somewhere, and the kids need to get them. I don't think we have an authority in existence we can give them access to from within the school network, they all are tied to some forum or other facility they should not be able to use. Hmm.

Do they have full featured school email accounts? That they can use to email anyone? It would be interesting to set up a purely mail based authority. Say you can prove you own the email address z-man@spam.net, you can set up the account z-man@spam.net.mail.armagetronad.org or similar by just sending a mail and replying to an automated response.

[2020]

Thanks, I am meeting the head tomorrow and should set this up.

They provide students with emails to the school site address, and this is integrated into gmail. Not sure if that helps. Also, still not sure how authentication will work when we invite another school to compete -- should the kids be taken with this game. Hopefully, it will create a buzz with the kids, and whether or not it does, I will be inviting other schools to a competition. If it doesn't catch from there, that will be that... We just to make sure that it is as easy as possible for kids to get on, as easy as I remember it was when I started playing and was amazed I was online with other players back in 2005 was it? This is trickier because of the institutional firewalls, but if we can make it secure and with minimal fuss, we have a chance.

[2020]

Some bad news. I am no longer working at the school. Looks like I pushed too hard. The meeting went well enough, with talk of developments in the new term, but I pitched something well beyond the scope of my job remit and two days later, I got an email saying I was no longer required.

So, my apologies to Z-man et al for putting in the effort in setting up the potential. I simply got core-dumped. Although I am still engaged with the head of education, I can't see this going forwards without the head of the school's co-operation.

As for me and this game, my last attempt -- and well overdue -- is to include some gameplay in some fiction I am writing. As I like to say, if you can't make it happen in reality, write about. I have tried over the years to make it happen, and I finally resort to fictionalising it. Perhaps it will at least make a good story? It is certainly a good enough game.

[Z-Man]

Oooouch. Sorry to hear that. I hope your financial situation is all right.

Oh, darn. With this down the drain, the flat almost finished (except loud bits I can't do at night or on Sundays), the PC upgraded, Z-Girl's sleeping habits getting a little more reasonable, I'm almost out of excuses for not doing actual coding work.