Double Journal Entry #1

Quote:

“In a video game, the  player “plays” a character or set of them.  The player must discover what goals this character has within the game world and carry them out, using whatever abilities the character has.”

Reaction:

Although the author made several excellent points, I chose to react to the social and personal aspect.  I had never considered the fact that when you game, you are “playing a character.”  You have to learn the limits in capabilities of this character.  Misinterpreting your character can be detrimental to the outcome of the game.  If you do not know what could help the character “win,” you will not win.  It is important for people explore/get creative outside of their own social zone.  I can see the benefits of portraying a character in a different world.

Extra:

You may ask why in the world I chose this photo.  I know this picture is kind of making fun of video games calling them a waste of technology;  Why does video gaming have to have the negative connotation?  I think this article shows there are several useful aspects of gaming.  Why does Science/Medicine have nothing to do with technology used in video games?  Would it not be beneficial for those in science/medicine to have simulations before doing the real thing?

How did this reading change or confirm your understanding of the connection between video games and learning?

Prior to reading this article, when I thought of the educational benefits of gamin I was thinking of the brain busting puzzles and trivial games that the author mentioned many think of at first.  This article really helped me see how (when utilized properly) video games can be good for learning in ways that I had never thought of before.

Introduction

a.Where you are from and what do you do.
   I live in Lewisburg, WV and teach 8th grade math at EGMS (Eastern Greenbrier Middle School)

b.What do you want to get out of the class.

   I want to learn how to implement gaming into education.  I want to learn how to make games for my students.

c Are you a Gamer? What Games do you play? Why do you like playing games?

   I am not a huge gamer.  I like games where I am up and moving (a variety of the Wii or Xbox Kinnect games).  I do like strategy word/number games on my phone, but that is about it.

d. What is your position on kids and video games? (ie time wasters, socially isolating, moral corrupting, new ways of learning, conflicted)

   Games are often seen negatively, but I believe when used properly, they can offer new ways of learning and appeal to other types of learners.

e. Link to a video, podcast, online article or blog posting that is related to the effects of video games on children's learning, sociability or character development and explain why you have selected to resource.

Very interesting video having to do with boys disengagement in school today.  Sure it talks about zero-tolerance for "rough-housing" and not enough men in the schools, but at the end it discusses putting ourselves into "boy culture" such as designing better educational games in addition to changing other policies, bringing men back to the classroom. She discusses how educational gaming doesn't have the same budgeting as "World of Warcraft." Very interesting!

f. List three major world events that happen during the year you were born.

1. The Berlin Wall came down!
2. US Troops invade Panama.
3.  Earthquake Hits San Francisco An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale hit the San Francisco area. The quake killed 57 people but caused nearly $10 billion in damages.