games

games

The Practical World of Optical Illusions

The Practical World of Optical Illusions

, , Other
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but the perception of the viewer matters.  Optical illusions focus on the science of optics, which is concerned with both physical and psychological perceptions of light.  Far from being just a game or a party trick, however, optical illusions play an important role in a number of professional fields, including dentistry, entertainment and computer programming and security. Let’s start with false teeth.  Historically, dentures have been made of a variety of materials, such as bone, metal, porcelain and other people’s teeth.  Today, however, many dental implants, bridges and other devices are made of resin, a sturdy substance which can be colored and molded to fit the needs of the patient.  However, commercially … Continued
Crime games: Carrie Mier and her use of board games in Criminal Justice course

Crime games: Carrie Mier and her use of board games in Criminal Justice course

, , , Frances Yates, Programs
This Faculty Feature series highlights innovative teaching and educational engagement at IU East, and connects content to interesting library resources. Our first profile is about Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, Dr. Carrie Mier. Her teaching and research areas include drug issues in criminal justice, violence and victimization, and criminal theory. Mier applies experiential and service learning in her courses. We interviewed her for information to highlight the use of board games in the Criminal Justice “Theories of Crime and Deviance” (CJUS P200) course. Why use board games in the classroom? Mier’s interest in board games began about seven years ago, with the Pathfinder series. Her collection steadily grew over time until now there are more than 50 games of all … Continued
Fake News: The Games

Fake News: The Games

, , Other
Still confused about fake news?  Well, maybe all you need to do is play.  Both adults and children use play as a learning tool, and over the past few years a handful of good quality online games have been developed around the theme of fake news.  Each one takes a slightly different focus, which gives them a different level of skill and playability.  But most importantly, they’re all FREE, so you can play all of them! First comes a game developed by FactCheck.org, one of the most reputable sources for seeking out accurate information.  Newsfeed Defenders places you as an admin for a social media news feed.  Your job, as you work your way to the highest administrative level, is … Continued
A Modern Prometheus

A Modern Prometheus

, , , books, Programs, Website
On January 15, 1818, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley published her first book. Subtitled “A Modern Prometheus,” this book began as part of a storytelling contest among herself, her then-boyfriend Percy Bysshe Shelley, their host Lord Byron and Byron’s physician, John Polidori. In Geneva, Switzerland, on a particularly dreary summer night, the four precocious thinkers and authors began to compose ghost stories. Percy Shelley wrote about an incident from his childhood. Rumor has it that Byron’s work was about a vampire. But the other two people in this group, neither of them accomplished authors in 1816, launched the modern horror tale with their works: John Polidori’s The Vampyre, and Mary Shelley’s classic Frankenstein. At the IU East Campus library, we are putting … Continued
One with Words

One with Words

Library Resources, Matt Dilworth
Today is a fun anniversary for anyone of the etymological persuasion – on December 21st, 1913, the first modern crossword puzzle was created by Alfred Wynne for the New York World. Crosswords are ubiquitous. Whole books are published full of them. The New York Times prints one every day. And over the break, you might just curl up with one. Of course, the more education, experience, and cultural awareness you have, the better you are at solving crossword puzzles. But no one knows every answer. Libraries have always had lots of great resources to help any puzzle solver. Standbys include an encyclopedia set like the Encyclopedia Britannica, and an exhaustive dictionary like the Oxford English Dictionary. Having newspapers for current … Continued