Good Video Games Good Learning, by: James Paul Gee

I read the article Good Video Games Good Learning, by James Paul Gee. I agree with the article of how it explained that video games are learning machines. I feel like video games are beneficial because they keep individuals cognitively thinking by trying to figure out new strategies and techniques. The author expressed when we are playing a video game, we can accomplish our learning goals. I think that is absolutely true. An entire paragraph in the article seemed so accurate that I definitely agreed with what was being said. It said, “Good video games incorporate good learning principles, principles supported by current research in cognitive science (Gee 2003, 2004). Why? If no one could learn these games, no one would buy them, and yet players will not accept easy, dumbed-down, or short games. At a deeper level, however, challenge and learning are a large part of what makes good video games motivating and entertaining. Humans actually enjoy learning, though sometimes in school you would not know it” (Gee, 2005). People need to be challenged to get their brains thinking outside of the box. 

 I do think video games can be a problem in the classroom if they are not educational and are violent. Certain video games need to be blocked so students can be engaged in the classroom instead of playing them. I think if teachers provide educational video games where students can play them one-on-one with other peers, then that would be a great learning experience. Students can have fun and learn new things through a video game in class. As I stated before, video games can be valuable to our learning development.

Gee, James Paul. “Learning by Design: Good Video Games as Learning Machines.” E-Learning 2.1 (2005): 5. Print.

The Role of the School and Classroom Community in Ed Tech Policy

 
I came across an editorial cartoon picture that showed an educational policy that looked very interesting. It shows a teacher addressing to his students to text their homework to him via cell phone. I found this interesting because when I was in high school teachers made it a substantial point that cell phones are prohibited in class. I feel like technology has evolved since I was in high school (2009); teachers are becoming much more lenient with technological devices such as cell phones, laptops, and iPads in the classroom. It is not that teachers do not care that students use these devices in class, it is because teachers are now trying to incorporate more technology in their classrooms. I think the main purpose of this cartoon is to show that teachers now use cell phones and other electronic devices in their classrooms. This teacher in the cartoon wants his students to use their cell phones to submit their homework. One student looks confused because maybe his teacher is now acknowledging that cell phones are now allowed to be used in the classroom for educational purposes. He may also be confused because technology is such a new and advanced thing that many students do not use a lot in their classes, especially their phones. Some students usually use paper, pencils, and textbooks. Today’s schools are now using Smart Boards and iPads for students to do their schoolwork on. I think the cartoon creator made it clear to show that he or she wants to persuade the viewers who are looking at the cartoon to show how cell phones are important in the classroom. The cartoon creator over exaggerated the boy in the corner by making him have a worried look with enlarged eyes and sweat drops. The other students look like they may know exactly what is going on by showing the back of their heads. They all have the word “ping” written by their cell phones as if they submitted their homework immediately without hesitation or confusion. The teacher looks happy by showing how he is looking down at his phone and giving a nice message on his phone with a smiley face. It even shows how he is typing a lot on his phone by showing the word “click”. I really enjoyed this cartoon. I think it benefits everyone in the long run such as students and teachers. Teachers can now text their students and students can reply back on their cell phones. I think the only thing that should have been provided in the cartoon is maybe a reaction from the other students rather than just seeing the back of their heads.

After finding this cartoon, I found an article that coincided with this cartoon picture. Meg Ormiston stated, “Regardless of your school’s cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil” (2013)? She makes a great point and so does this cartoon. Why should teachers let their students use their cell phones in class? Meg made another excellent point. She said, “Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of net books because the cell phone is personal technology. Most students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of the cell phone, how to navigate and the limitations of the phone. The other reason to really rethink the cell phone debate is because learning on the cell phone can extend beyond the walls of the school or the confines of a class period” (2013). I have to agree with what she said. Students understand how to use their own phones when it comes to navigating certain things. Many schools may not be able to afford laptops, net books, or iPads for each individual student. That is why students can use their own “smart” phones to explore the same material that is provided in laptops, net books, and iPads. “This is a new time in education and with dwindling budgets, so we need to rethink possibilities, stretching every dollar. These mini computers are walking through the doors each day, let’s put them to work” (Ormiston, 2013).

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. 2013. [Cagel Cartoons]. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/great-resources-and-tools-for-teaching.html.

Ormiston, Meg. (2013). How to use cell phones as learning tools. TeachHub.com: K-12 News, Lessons & Shared Resources By Teachers, For Teachers. Retrieved April 5, 2013. From http://www.teachhub.com/how-use-cell-phones-learning-tools.