Just like how there is an educational classroom version
of
minecraft. I think there should be an Edu edition of the Kerbal Space Program.
The difference between this edition compared to the
normal versions, is that it has multi screen support and
is
designed to encourage teamwork. The spaceship
that
the
kerbals ride on in this version will be more complicated,
and have more variables to consider than the normal
version. Thus it would require teamwork to even get the
spacecraft to space.
The teacher computer will be projected on to the large
screen, and the teacher has full control over what
scenario
can happen. The idea of this projected scene, is to
represent the 'real world', thus the teacher is encouraged
to simulate the game in real time (only fast forward each
morning to make up for the time the teaching computer
was off), and to never rewind. The idea is to ensure
there
are real consequences for the decision that the students
chose.
Of course in practice, the teacher depending on time,
could select specific time frames as students cannot
always be up and ready 24hr like a real NASA director.
So this describes the teacher's computer, as the "Main
screen" of a nasa control room. The student's computer
however will represents various important roles such as
attitude control, power, propulsion, thermal, attitude
dynamics, orbital operations and other subsystem
discipline.
Initially however, the first half of the classroom time will
be spent on getting a snapshot of the current events in
the
teacher computer, and allowing students to play around
with simulating and computing solutions to the current
problem. This part is much like the standard kerbal
game.
Once a general consensus is formed on what to do next,
the teacher will switch all the students into 'mission
control
mode' and allow the students to perform the scenario in
real time. Hopefully, the room will be busy with students
running around trying their best to help ensure the 'real
kerbals' will get home safely.
While hopefully most classroom simulation will go
without
a hitch, the increase realism of the edu version will
mean
that there will be messups. But this can bring some
exciting moments too! E.g. The students accidentally
exploding the spacecraft in space, sending a kerbal
towards the sun. Thus prompting a rescue mission as
a classroom bands together to help save a kerbal floating
towards the sun.
p.s. Probably would want to add that tentacle monster to
the game as well... just to make things a little tad more
challenging.
p.s.s If the entire classroom was able to get a kerbal back home in one piece, then maybe then all the students should get a prize.
p.s.s.s A mission patch would be cool too!