Task Management Cards: Declare a Variable and Elements

TASK MANAGEMENT CARDS

These two types of cards are part of the Task Management category.

Element Card

These cards can be added to a Declared Variable Set as long as they meet the Boolean condition. In this example, the element is January and it belongs to the months_of_the_year variable set. A player earns one (1) token for every eligible element placed in a Text Editor Window. See Declare a Variable Card section.

Declare a Variable Card

Used to declare a variable and begin a set. A set is an abstract data type that can store unique values, called elements, in no particular order. Once a set becomes playable, any user can add to that set as long as their Element Card variable name matches the the name of the set. For every Element Card added to a set, a token is earned.

In this example, the variable is animalsAtTheZoo as noted on the top of the card. An Element Card with the same animalsAtTheZoo variable can be placed in the adjoining Text Editor as long as it can also meet the stated Boolean condition (in this case it’s any animal that is a mammal AND eats plants).

Declared variables are placed under the Text Editor placemats for everyone to see and interact with.

Each Variable Card contains a Boolean Logic parameter, either an AND, OR, or NOT statement. Users may only add elements to the variable stack if it makes the Boolean Logic true. If they can’t meet the conditions that means their current element cards are false and unplayable, however, users can change the Boolean parameters by placing another Declare a Variable Card of the same category with new Boolean Logic on top of the old one. 

The element parrot makes the Boolean logic true, whereas say, otter, would make it false even though it is an animal. This is because an otter is neither a bird nor a reptile.

The element otter can be placed if a declared variable is replaced. Another animalsAtTheZoo variable with new Boolean logic replaces the previous parameter, allowing different animal elements to be played. You cannot replace the initial parameter with one from a different variable, like one from grocery_list.

 Up to four variable sets can be in play at a time. They don’t all have to be different, two or more sets can share the same variable name.

A set (and Boolean rule) can be removed by playing a specific 404 Error Card. Once you’ve cleared the cache of one set, you’ve opened a spot to start a new category. This is helpful for when all four Text Editors are occupied but none of your Elements match the current variable sets. Place the cleared cards, including the 404 card, in the Task Management discard pile (its Recycling Bin placemat).