Video 1: Your Brain On Video Games
Major argument presented: Contrary to conventional wisdom, action video games are not necessarily bad for brain health. They can be a powerful tool for maintaining/increasing brain plasticity, learning, attention and vision.
Claims based on research data show that gamers are actually better than non-gamers in the following areas:
- better vision in 2 ways: resolving small details and distinguishing various shades of gray
- focusing their attention. 2 examples: can resolve cognitive conflicts faster and they are able to track a higher number of objects thus they could be more aware of their surroundings than non-gamers.
- multi-tasking - gamers are able to swiftly switch between tasks. Non-gamers that multi-task between different forms of multimedia did not perform as well as they expected they would.
Video 2: Gabe Zicherman - Gamification
Major argument presented: Gamification is here and it is the future of our world. Fundamentally, it is a continuous learning process that is being applied in a variety of ways, and its a good thing.
Gamification - The process of using game thinking and game mechanics to engage audiences to solve problems.
The claims:
- The Flynn Effect - IQs have been increasing since the 1990's, about the time video gaming started becoming popular. Coincidence?
- 5 things to do to make you smarter: seek novelty, challenge yourself, think creatively, do things the hard way and network. This is the basic pattern in today's video games.
- gamification is already being incorporated into our world and it will continue to become more and more enmeshed. ex. gaming concepts are being incorporated into today's hybrid cars to help drivers become eco-conscious.
I like the speakers prescription for helping to make our kids awesome: get into the game with them. Become one with the game, understand it because it is the future.
Video 3: Big Thinkers: Katie Salen on Learning with Games
How does playing or designing video games support the development of 21st century skills?
- develop skills in collaboration, team building, problem solving, explore new ways of doing/being in a forgiving environment to fail in - taking risks in games is ok.
- provides reachable challenges
- helps kids think about who is on the other end of the game. Thinking outside of themselves and how they're interacting with others
- kids know the game environment is designed for them to be successful
- provides community support (peers)
- provides assessment through constant feedback so the player will know how to improve
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