Hi, my name is Abigail Hayhurst. I am from Bridgeport, WV. I graduated from FSU this past December with my Bachelors in Elementary Education. I am currently working as a substitute teacher in Taylor County.
I am working towards my Masters in Digital Media. What I hope to get out of this class is to learn how to find and/or design educational games that can be used in the classroom to enhance learning. During my time student teaching, I saw just how positively students respond to using technology in their learning. I want to be able to incorporate technology whenever I have my own classroom.
I am not a gamer, and I have never been, even as a child. I have very limited experience with video games. I have always been a very active person; I love to be outside and I love to run, bike, and swim. I think because of this I have a negative position on video games. I would rather see kids being active and socializing with friends instead of spending hours in front of a video game. Although, I do see the benefit of educational games on student learning. They can be engaging for the students, and provide them with technology experience.
I chose the video Video Game Addiction because it addresses the biggest concerns I have with video games. I'm afraid of how digital media is taking the place of face to face interaction. If children are spending hours in front of a video game instead of playing with friends or spending time with family, it is negatively effecting their personal relationships and their ability to interact with others. I also worry about the violence in a lot of video games, and how seeing that over and over makes violence normal to them. I am shocked at some of the things kids say about hurting others; like they don't understand how serious it is. The second reason I chose this video is because I think it does a good job of presenting the issue from both sides, because you can't blame these problems entirely on video games.
Lastly, I was born in 1985, and three major events that happened that year were: a volcanic eruption in Columbia killed 25,000 people, British scientists discovered a hole in the ozone layer, and Microsoft released the very first version of Windows.
Although I was not born yet I found it very interesting that you were born the same year that Microsoft released their first version of Microsoft. I am a computer teacher so anything with computers catches my interest.
ReplyDeleteEvery day I see how my students struggle through many of their core classes that follow the traditional methods - while in my class students are required to use many methods of technology and they continuously comment that my class is so much easier - yet I assign a great deal more of work then other teachers. It is because the students are using technology that they are familiar with and that they understand. Traditional methods just do not make sense to them.
I find it interesting what you said about the students find your class easier even though you assign so much more work because they are doing something familiar. I remember reading one time about how young people today process information differently... that older generations think linearly, but younger kids think non-linearly but still arrive at the main point. The example it used was that an older person would read a webpage all the way through and then move onto the links within the webpage, while a "digital native" would read up until a link, go to the link, read that page (or scan it for relative information) and then go back to the orginal webpage and continue reading. It was a great article about "digital natives" by Marc Prensky.
DeleteLike you, I worry about maintaining a certain amount of non-virtual interaction. There was a post on FB recently. "Kids in 1983" all sorts of activities such as riding bikes, climbing a tree, playing ball. "Kids in 2013" all sitting around a tree playing on handheld devices. Very poignant.
ReplyDeleteOther major events in 1985 - I got married for the first time!
I know some teenagers who get most of their "socialization" through online gaming. As with everything, there should be a balance.
ReplyDeleteIn 1985, I finished up elementary school and started middle school. I vaguely remember hearing about the discovery of a hole in the Ozone.
I can see your point about activity - I think too much video games are not a good thing, and its super important for children to get up and move around and go outside!
ReplyDeleteI do, however, think that video games are a social activity. Some of my fondest "bonding" moments growing up with my brother was playing the Nintendo. Although I don't really play video games, my understanding of the really popular games (such as World of Warcraft) are that they are about forming groups (guilds, I think?) to increase your enjoyment of the game. My brothers both have an Xbox with Kinect abiltiy and play games with each other, even though they live on opposite sides of the country. So, in that way, those video games are keeping them connected and allowing them to socialize.
In 1985 I was in the 1st grade and don't really remember any of those events, although I do remember being concerned about the Ozone layer and the environment at a young age.
I agree there should be a balance! I think their is a nature deprivation in our society! I have lots of rules about the amount of time my kids use technology!
ReplyDeleteI share your love for the outdoors! I like moving/exploring:). I was born in the late 80s, but I've heard of the Columbia Volcanic eruption.
ReplyDeleteI agree that kids should be active and socializing with friends in "real-time" rather than over the xbox or other gaming console.
ReplyDeleteThey still are talking about the effects of a hole in the ozone layer. Of course, now they believe it's due to human's toxins, such as hairspray; however, based on my Global Crisis class (that was all about Global Warming and its causes), it's due mainly to water vapor, which we can't control.
Greetings Abigail!
ReplyDeleteI think that it is wonderful that you are not a gamer. Being active and outdoors is much healthy than sitting a playing video games. I agree that kids should be outdoors however that is not always an option. Therefore when they do play video games I feel the games educational value and time spent playing should be considered. I feel if a child is monitored then a video games can be useful.
As for the events that happened the year you were born I cannot remember any of them because I was only and infant myself. Being a scientist I find it fascinating that you mentioned discovering a hole in the ozone layer. Also the release of Windows was a very important event!
Thanks for posting!
Abigail, I have similar views on kids spending too much time with video games as well. Prior to this class and another technology class I had, I had very pecimistic views about the effect of technology on future generations, specifically with their social skills as you mentioned. I feel this class and discovering more about gaming in education will enlighten me! I don't recall any of the events in the year you were born, since I was a year old, but that is interesting the first version of Windows was released in 85!
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