AnnMaria De Mars

Draft 2 — I went to the Computer Users in Education conference in Palm Springs last month, not knowing what to expect. It turned out to be way cooler than what you’d expect and I definitely intend to go back for more reasons than I can tell you in just one post. One […]

CUE Meets the Giant

April 4, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Educational Games / Game Progress by AnnMaria De Mars

I have been teaching for 30 years – middle school, undergraduates, graduate students. I’ve given out my share of failing grades during that time, probably more than most people because in mathematics, statistics and programming courses, there is not much room for giving the student the benefit of the doubt. […]

What I Want to Say to Students Who Fail

April 3, 2016 in AnnMaria by AnnMaria De Mars

We get a lot of really good ideas from our users, but there are some that are a few tacos short of a combination plate. Here, in no particular order, are the five craziest suggestions I have received. ============== Player: Why are the Indians shooting the deer? I’m vegetarian. I really […]

Top Five Crazy Game Suggestions

March 30, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Educational Games by AnnMaria De Mars

barnyard scene — My mom used to say that any job was easy if you didn’t have to do it yourself. Mom was right, too. Just look at the number of people who have never stood in front of a class in their life but think teaching is easy. “If this whole doing […]

Any Job is Easy if You Don’t Have to Do ...

March 30, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Educational Games by AnnMaria De Mars

Always remember, ladies and gentlemen, while Burroughs had all of its engineers at work inventing a better adding machine, Steve Wozniak was in his garage inventing the Apple computer. Dr. Hastings, a professor in my MBA program back in 1980 said that and I have never forgotten. Within the span […]

Apple didn’t invent a better adding machine

March 25, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Educational Games by AnnMaria De Mars

Eva, Maria and me — If you have not read Sojourner Truth’s inspiring speech, Aint I a Woman , you are missing out. You can click on this link right now to read it, and don’t skip scrolling down to hear Alice Walker read the speech. You’ll be glad you did. Now, sitting here in […]

Not Sure About Women in Tech Events

March 22, 2016 in AnnMaria / Women in Tech by AnnMaria De Mars

CUE in Palm Springs – Meet us, tweet us

March 17, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM by AnnMaria De Mars

Jenn and Julia, two children I produced by having sex — No, this isn’t that kind of post. I do want to talk about virtual reality, though. I was reading on twitter comments from people who said, “There are only two kinds of people: those who think virtual reality will change the world and those who haven’t tried it yet.” […]

Virtual Reality and Sex

March 17, 2016 in AnnMaria / Educational Games by AnnMaria De Mars

book — Note: While this is a positive review of a resource, no one paid me to write it and I would not know the founders of livebinders if they charged at me with a sharp stick. I just thought I’d provide a helpful suggestion to readers of this blog who are […]

A tool for teachers (and students): livebinders

March 16, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM by AnnMaria De Mars

map — Where are all of the good educational games? Seriously, if you compare the games used in an average classroom and mainstream games like Grand Theft Auto or World of Warcraft, there is a pretty dramatic difference. Don’t even go with the GTA and WoW and other games with a seven-figure […]

Why We Can’t Have Nice Things in Educational Gaming

March 15, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Educational Games by AnnMaria De Mars

rabbit — TRUE STORY: When I was in the seventh grade, our school had a speech contest. I wanted to win simply because I was that obnoxious kid who had to win EVERYTHING. So, I worked really hard, did research, followed the exact format, practiced in front of a mirror, all of […]

Ed Tech, Investors and Bunnies

March 14, 2016 in AnnMaria / Education: Innovation and STEM / Start-up Diaries by AnnMaria De Mars

COME OUT AND MEET THE 7 GENERATION GAMES TEAM 7 Generation Games is preparing to get on the road starting next month, to attend various conferences and expos. Our calendar of events is filling up as we spread the word on how entertaining our games are to play; and the […]

Meet us as 7 Generation Games Hits the Road!

February 21, 2016 in Start-up Diaries by AnnMaria De Mars

Games That Make You Smarter