Simon Decoded: Reverse Engineering “Simon Says” Using Computational Thinking
Students test their memories by playing “Simon.”Copyright Alonzo Jones & Michael Johnson, 2022
The Milton Bradley game “Simon” is an electronic version of the game “Simon Says.” The object of the game is for a player to press the color that matches the sequence and interval presented. As the player completes the task of depressing the emitted bar, another color or sequence addendum is added, thus increasing the difficulty. The objective of this activity is to reverse engineer the game, creating an analog version that provides kinesthetic, audio, and visual stimulation events that can further support memory improvement, critical thinking, and visual processing. In this activity, students utilize components of computational thinking such as decomposition and debugging to design their games. Students “live” the code by interacting via gamification in small groups to play their games, including randomizing, sequencing, and data analyzing the colors and patterns for each turn.
Engineers develop technology such as games and simulations to help with training, evaluation, fitness, and medical diagnosis. For example, a flight simulator might target a specific region of the brain by simulating the sights and sounds someone might experience while piloting an airplane. Engineers can evaluate how well the simulation worked by measuring brain wave activity, eye movement, body positioning, or heart rate. Having a non-invasive interface with the brain, such as a monitor or physical buttons, can enhance the experience and yield additional data. In this activity, students develop an analog version of “Simon” that can be used anywhere to support mental acuity.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Recall color sequencing trials created by the randomizer (dealer).
- Develop their own levels of difficulty and criteria.
- Classify specific characteristics components of the analog versus digital/electronic versions.
- Recognize essential components of computational thinking.