3 Things I Learned
The first thing I learned in this video was that IQ scores in the United States have been increasing since the 1990s. I found this surprising because all I ever hear about in the media is how our kids are getting dumber and how every country in the world scores higher than us on testing. It's nice to hear that our IQs are getting higher, although, I don't think we can attribute that all to video games like the man in the video is implying. I would say many factors contribute to that. The second thing I learned is that when someone overcomes a challenge on a video game, dopamine is released in their brain. I had never thought about that before, but I can see why it happens; you get a rush from accomplishing a goal, just like you would running a race or scoring a touchdown. The third thing I learned is what gamification is; I have never heard that word before watching this video. I now know that it is the process of using game thinking to engage audiences and solve problems. I like the analogy the man made about the computer dash in the hybrid cars; how it engages drivers to make better choices to help the environment.
2 Things I Agree/Disagree With
There is one statement he made that I strongly disagree with; that nobody wants to sit down and read a book, and that those days are behind us. I couldn't possibly disagree more; I love to read! If there is a book I'm really into I could read it for hours and not even realize it. I really don't like his negative attitude towards books and I think that attitude can be bad for our students. I think we should be expressing a love of books and reading to our students and encouraging them to read. No video game, TV show, or movie can ever go as in depth and be as expressive as a book.
I do agree with his message that parents should sit down and play their child's favorite video game with them. By doing so, you are getting the opportunity to not only spend time with your child, but also you are taking an interest in something they love. That is important because it lets them know that you are interested in them and that you won't just brush off something they love.
1 Question I Have
The question I have is for the man in the video and it pertains to what he was saying about kids not wanting to read because it wasn't interesting enough. The way he talks everything needs to be flashy and extravagant, or else children won't be interested. My question to him would be "If we teach kids that the only worthwhile things are the ones that have all the bells and whistles, how will they ever appreciate the simple things in life?"
I agree Abby! I think he went overboard on that one! I think it is important to have kids and adults move between highly stimulating worlds like games and more serene worlds like reading a book or hiking in the woods. People always need a balance.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think his point about schools failing to engage kids is valid. And stimulation does not always need to be in the form of fast paced games. Content needs to at least be made relevant and presented in a way that children can experience success.