Video/Computer Gaming
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Hope everyone has had a great (long) Thanksgiving weekend.
Kelly ordered a new book for me (and the house) which I think will
interest you if you're so inclined. Before I give you the title, let
me share some of the points I've read in the past 20 minutes reading
this book.
"Today's kids are not ADD, they're EOE: Engage Me or Enrage Me"
"Like all of us, including the adults who spend countless hours
perfecting golfing, fishing, and other hobby skills, kids love to learn
when it isn't forced on them. In fact, because their brains are still
growing, kids probably love this *non-forced learning* even more than
the rest of us. This is why game designer Raph Koster says that the
*fun* kids are always seeking is really a synonym for *unforced
learning*".
As stated by James Paul Gee, Tashia Morgridge Professor of
Reading at the University of Wisconsin-Madison writes in his Foreward:
"(the author) knows that game designers have learned to harness deep
and powerful learning -- learning in the sense of problem solving,
decision making, hypothesizing, and strategizing -- as a form of fun,
pleasure, engagemeent, even *flow*".
Mr. Gee goes on to point out that the author *knows* what makes
a person good or bad on video games is not violence or lack of it, but
how the game is played. "Does the player see through the *eye candy*
and the superficial content to the underlying rules, strategy spaces,
and emergent possibilities for problem solving? If so, powerful
learning and thinking are going on." Gee goes on to argue if these two
things weren't taking place, the player would *die* and have to start
over again. {I don't know about your guys, but Duncan hasn't missed
getting to at least the fifth level of any *new* game in less than two
days in quite some time}.
Finally, the author saw a t-shirt a kid was wearing in NYC which
stated: "I'm not attention deficit - I'm just not listening".
The book is called "Don't Bother Me Mom -- I'm Learning" by Marc
Prensky. I thought that I'd pass this along to the group since
*gaming* (or computers/TV) always gets some time at our SSUDs gathering
and beyond. So far in the book, the author is focused on the good our
kids get from gaming rather than focus on all the negative that seems
to get into the media. The book gives the thinking parent an
opportunity to make a more informed decision.
Hope you pick it up if you don't have it, or comment on it if (when)
you've read it. I'm just getting started but think I'll get a lot out
of it myself.
Ben
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
Kelly ordered a new book for me (and the house) which I think will
interest you if you're so inclined. Before I give you the title, let
me share some of the points I've read in the past 20 minutes reading
this book.
"Today's kids are not ADD, they're EOE: Engage Me or Enrage Me"
"Like all of us, including the adults who spend countless hours
perfecting golfing, fishing, and other hobby skills, kids love to learn
when it isn't forced on them. In fact, because their brains are still
growing, kids probably love this *non-forced learning* even more than
the rest of us. This is why game designer Raph Koster says that the
*fun* kids are always seeking is really a synonym for *unforced
learning*".
As stated by James Paul Gee, Tashia Morgridge Professor of
Reading at the University of Wisconsin-Madison writes in his Foreward:
"(the author) knows that game designers have learned to harness deep
and powerful learning -- learning in the sense of problem solving,
decision making, hypothesizing, and strategizing -- as a form of fun,
pleasure, engagemeent, even *flow*".
Mr. Gee goes on to point out that the author *knows* what makes
a person good or bad on video games is not violence or lack of it, but
how the game is played. "Does the player see through the *eye candy*
and the superficial content to the underlying rules, strategy spaces,
and emergent possibilities for problem solving? If so, powerful
learning and thinking are going on." Gee goes on to argue if these two
things weren't taking place, the player would *die* and have to start
over again. {I don't know about your guys, but Duncan hasn't missed
getting to at least the fifth level of any *new* game in less than two
days in quite some time}.
Finally, the author saw a t-shirt a kid was wearing in NYC which
stated: "I'm not attention deficit - I'm just not listening".
The book is called "Don't Bother Me Mom -- I'm Learning" by Marc
Prensky. I thought that I'd pass this along to the group since
*gaming* (or computers/TV) always gets some time at our SSUDs gathering
and beyond. So far in the book, the author is focused on the good our
kids get from gaming rather than focus on all the negative that seems
to get into the media. The book gives the thinking parent an
opportunity to make a more informed decision.
Hope you pick it up if you don't have it, or comment on it if (when)
you've read it. I'm just getting started but think I'll get a lot out
of it myself.
Ben
________________________________________________________________________
Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and
security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from
across the web, free AOL Mail and more.
Amy Mason
Hey, thanks...I just reserved it at our library :-)
I'm always looking for any positives regarding the video gaming dilemma.
Amy in WV
I'm always looking for any positives regarding the video gaming dilemma.
Amy in WV
riasplace3
--- In [email protected], kbcdlovejo@... wrote:
and was thinking of getting it, but hadn't made up my mind, mainly
because my kids don't play games...they have free access to them, they
just usually have something else to do. What you've said about it
makes me think, though, that I may glean some information from it I
can use in other situations, ie. talking with my sister about her
boys.
I think I'll go see if the library's open now.<g>
ria
> The book is called "Don't Bother Me Mom -- I'm Learning" by MarcHey, thanks for the preview. : ) I've seen that book at the library
> Prensky.
and was thinking of getting it, but hadn't made up my mind, mainly
because my kids don't play games...they have free access to them, they
just usually have something else to do. What you've said about it
makes me think, though, that I may glean some information from it I
can use in other situations, ie. talking with my sister about her
boys.
I think I'll go see if the library's open now.<g>
ria