Double-Entry Journal #8 (Week 12)

Double-Entry Journal #8 (Week 12)

"In any case, the fact that computer games have become a major industry means that in many people's livescomputer gameplay features as a very pleasurable and entertaining, but also at times a frustrating and challenging activity." (Arnseth, 2006) ... I find this quote to be very true about the world of gaming. I haveplay games such as Mario Party for the Wii that are simply used for pleasure & entertaining. But, then I have also played Call of Duty with a few of my friends, which is a game I found to be frustrating & challenging, mainly because I had no clue what I was doing, and none of my guy friends wanted to take the time out to help me understand the game, they just needed an extra player on their team.

Arnseth, H. C. (2006, December). Learning to Play or Playing to Learn. Retrieved from Game Studies:https://online.fairmontstate.edu/webct/urw/lc15057011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

"Moreover, since computer gaming seems to offer such motivating and rewarding experiences, educational researchers and policymakers have become concerned with whether games might become more integrated with official school curricula. (e.g. Egenfeldt-Nielsen, 2005; Kirriemuir & McFarlane, 2004)." (Arnseth, 2006) ... I foresee computer games finding their way into classrooms of all types from elementary to college. I've seen it in the past few years of my education when I would take part in a preschool classroom.Computer games were incorporated, and with these games, these children were learning to take turns, share, and do a host of other things. I wouldn't say that computer games are necessarily a bad thing, because I think children are more motivated to learn if technology is incorporated into the classroom (which is what I'm trying to prove with my Action Research Project). Computer games are definitely not something new, and they're DEFINITELY not going away anytime soon, so I think computer integration into the classroom community is only going to come faster than we ever expected, but it will be something that turns out to be a positive thing in the future (at least that's what I think...)!

"Still according to Kirriemuir & McFarlane (2004) many teachers and parents seem to recognize that computer games might support the development of valuable skill such as strategic thinking, communication, and application of numbers and group-decision making." (Arnseth, 2006) ... As noted above, when I was a part of multiple preschool classrooms over the last few years, I've seen this type of learning taking place. I can't really say much for older children's learning of these skills since I haven't really participated in an older classroom where computer games are being used. Even so, all of the skills discussed in the quote are valuable to a person's development, and even though it might not be the ideal way for them to learn these various skills, at least they're being learned.

I love that technology is coming into the classroom scene faster than people ever thought it would. I love incorporating technology into the classroom, whether it's a classroom of preschoolers, or a classroom of college students. I prefer online learning over paper & book, and love to learn about the various forms of technology that are available to us through the use of the Internet, such as Jing, Scratch, VoiceThread, and a variety of others.

The article I found in relation to what I read for this Double-Entry Journal details the benefits of preschoolers' use of computer games. The website, Video Games: Preschoolers, discusses ways that a parent can become more involved in their child's digital gaming. The suggestions that it makes for becoming involved in a child's gaming include asking questions about what the level is about, how he/she views the game, what happens when you press certain buttons, and taking an active role in learning more about the games he/she is playing by familiarizing yourself with game ratings, and visiting Game Review Websites, such as, Common Sense Media, to see parent reviews of the games that are available to children. It also provides ways that your child is learning through the use of these computer games, and how he/she is being benefited from these games. 

Bibliography

Arnseth, H. C. (2006, December). Learning to Play or Playing to Learn. Retrieved from Game Studies: https://online.fairmontstate.edu/webct/urw/lc15057011.tp0/cobaltMainFrame.dowebct

PBSParents. Video Games: Preschoolers. Retrieved from Children & Media: 

http://www.pbs.org/parents/childrenandmedia/videogames-preschool.html