SLS Hackathon 2019 questions and answers i have

These are rephased as thoughts from me with answers for supporting teachers to be better at using and customising EJSS games/interactives we made together.
No names were mentioned and no person is harmed or privacy intruded in writing this wonderful results from the SLS Hackathon 2019.

How can MOE HQ support you in creating simulations (or other resources) for SLS lessons?

1. Provide more template which require minimal changes for teachers to create their own simulation. Noted, that is a good idea. There are alot of "templates" already on https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/events/883-20190219-sls-hackathon-etd-cpdd, more will come after each event with teachers
2. I think having specialists whom we can contact for help would be good. Yes, agreed, fortunately Lawrence_WEE@moe.gov.sg is that specialist for coding games/virtual labs
3. Support group for us to share tips/issues. Yes, there is https://www.facebook.com/groups/sglearningdesigners/ where everything happens for SLS tips.
4. Providing standard function libraries and their uses. Yes, i have a library of cheat codes here https://github.com/lookang/codesforejss
5. Probably a scheduled slot for screen sharing so debugging/troubleshooting process is smoother. Yes, i normally use https://www.teamviewer.com/en/ for remote desktop to get help or help other debug.
6. Coming out with simpler software as this can be pretty complex. This is beyond me, maybe someone else can do that.
7. Have a proper training, don't just ask participants to follow guides. If you really want people to create, come up with a proper class to teach us. The problem is creating a game is a creative process and not every game uses the same construction elements and everything is contextual, I believe the only way is to create to learn, even if i would to conduct a course, it will take too long, and the return on investment of time and effort probably will be lower than a 2 day hackathon.  
8. MOE HQ can provide a step-by-step manual consisting of the common features or functions found in games. Yes, I have 3 tutorial now: 
1. https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/mother-tongue-languages/chinese/856-catchapplegametemplatev01 (recommended) 
2. https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/physics/02-newtonian-mechanics/01-kinematics/857-ejss-model-unnamed (optional) 
3. https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/interactive-resources/biology/859-complimentarymatchproteinv2 (optional)
9. Provide useful template
10. Training sessions can check here https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/events for future and past events with lots of documentation to learn from.
11. More sharing sessions Yes, you can check out upcoming events here https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/events
12. More of such training/workshops https://iwant2study.org/ospsg/index.php/events
13. To have more workshops to conduct EJSS lessons for champion teachers. Usually, there are 2 opportunity to have a EJSS workshops. SLS Hackathon and Teacher Work Attachment with me. Announcement will be made here https://www.facebook.com/groups/sglearningdesigners/  usually SLS Hackathon is 3-4 June and Teacher Work Attachment with me is 29 October to  14 Novemeber every year.
14. Continue working on supporting other apps to be used within SLS Will be good if you can say which App, is it Geogebra?
15. It would be great if MOE can create or purchase collections of loyalty free media resources for teachers to use, like images, sound effects, music, clips, etc.
16. Have a team of programmers that can code programmes which are then easily editable by teachers to adapt. It is a good suggestion which is a human resource issue beyond me.
17. I think at first, need to introduce teachers to use premade simulations to SLS first, then slowly make known instructions on how to attach simulations to SLS.  Watch the Youtube below, it is also possible now to embed found in "TEXT-<>" in addition to "MEDIA-UPLOAD" 
18. Simple simulations yes but not for the faint-hearted. This would be more applicable to passionate souls who are into coding and computer applications. Agreed
19. Send Trainers to train on zonal levels Invite me 
20. Giving more JavaScript templates. ok will try when free.
21. Documentation of the programs submitted during Hackathon 2019, to supplement the inline comments provided so that we can learn how to code them from scratch. Yes, everyone can help to do that, after commenting pass the source back to me for uploading to iwant2study.org
22. Coming up with more ready to use templates with detailed step by step user guide and 24hr help desk support.
23. Technical assistance when running into problem doing EJSS. WhatsApp me
24. Step by step guide to create simulations and helpline. WhatsApp me
25. HQ is able provide an expert like Lawrence to help us to solve our problem in creating our simulation. Eg, helpdesk phone line which allow us to call or email our problem to the expert. WhatsApp me

Any other comments for the organising team?

1. Thank you for the well organized event!!:)
2. Great initiative
3. Good job
4. Thank you!
5. Thank you for the hard work and effort in organizing the hackathon. It was a useful workshop.
6. I’ve learnt a lot from this event, not only from the Trainers, but also from the creativity of the other Teachers.
7. To have more workshops to conduct EJSS. It is not easy for normal teachers from the ground to spend time doing SLS lessons like what we have done for the 2 days. It would be good if SLS team train more teachers like us to do EJSS for the schools. Professional development for teachers.
8. Set up separate categories Arts/Humanities vs Science, and Pri-Lower Sec, Upper Sec-JCs as pedagogies and design/focus of EJSS for the respective will vary widely
9. Perhaps T2 Wk 10 wd work better than hols
10. EJSS has its limitations.
11. Training sessions to be made available in YouTube if possible for participants who missed the pre-training or for people to go back and relook at the training sessions as a refresher.
12. Great job! Hope to See You again!
13. Although EJS is good for simple programming, there were limitations and UX of the programme made it difficult to edit.
14. Very friendly and helpful
15. Thank you for the time and effort!
16. Nil
17. Will be good to have a 3 day JavaScript course to fully immerse and build good program.
18. Let's do it again!
19. Great job in organising this event. Would be great if it’s a week long event for us to really build the resource up properly with ETD’s support to troubleshoot on the spot.
20. Appreciated the time and effort put into preparation. Learnt a new way to create resources. Need a lot of guidance to create using ejss especially for new learners.
21. NA

What was the most valuable learning point from this event?

1. Understanding some basic of coding
2. That everyone collaborated and innovated for the benefit of their students' learning. Technology can really be an empowering tool in the hands of educators.
3. There are endless possibilities in using tech to enhance teaching and learning
4. Hands on development
5. To come up with a good simulation, it needs to be well thought out from the start
6. Learning how challenging building a resource can be
7. Learning that what we have done can be uploaded onto SLS.
8. Being able to create resources that are applicable for students’ learning.
9. The possibilities that can be achieved through SLS and EJSS
10. How to use the codes to do engaging lessons
11. Collective Wisdom
12. Just try!
13. There are endless possibilities to make lessons interesting for our students. We just need time and space to explore.
14. Hands on
15. Teachers are passionate and creative. We shall combine forces and provide even better T&L experiences for both teachers and students.
16. How to improve interactivity in the simulation
17. Programming has a steep learning curve.
18. Nothing is impossible...but we need to tap on the strengths of others.
19. Javascript
20. Learning from each other.
21. Ignited an interest to further learn JavaScript on my own. Coding is fun!
22. Learning doesn’t stop even when you are the teacher...
23. Always save multiple copies of the work.
24. There is always new things to be learnt.
25. Understanding of JavaScript. There is a great app for kids on JavaScript https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.area120.grasshopper
26. SLS is working on our feedback. I would like to suggest SLS to keep the school in the loop of the upcoming new features like what Parent Gateway is doing.  subscribed to ETDtogo at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVG2Mc61vpFdfENd1iewyiw , 

	I have learnt useful ideas from the training sessions.	I found the training materials easy to understand.	The trainers were helpful and knowledgeable.	I am excited to try building my own simulations after this event.	The venue was conducive for this event.	The duration of this event was just right.
Strongly agree	13	7	14	11	19	12
Agree	12	10	11	10	6	13
Disagree	0	7	0	3	0	0
Strongly disagree	0	1	0	1	0	0

Reference:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cz2MVhDx0WbgCGA04Yao-nfpWDPcr0flHrZ4zVh_aoI/edit?usp=sharing