Response to an Action Project PLN #6

            The action project that affected me the most was the one done by Phillip O’Connell about aliens. No, not illegal aliens, but real, telepathic communication, we come in peace aliens. This topic affected me because I am a HUGE lover of everything about space. That includes aliens, stars, planets, the whole sha-bang. Now as a lover, I was greatly enveloped in his topic from the beginning. His counterpoints were something new that I had not seen in the knowledge and facts I have gained about the topic. I am going to leave this short because there is not very much more that can be explained without going into incredible detail. This level of detail is not usually engaged in unless the “engager” wants to write an entire book to not leave anything out. In the end I learned much that I did not know about aliens in Phillip’s topic. 

How Do I Feel About Video Games? PLN #5

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In the study of "How do video games effect health and focus" we have found that the increasing numbers of violent video games have had a very negative effect on teens. We am able to state it so blandly because of the knowledge we have on the subject. Some people think video games are outstanding because they have both a educational utility as well as entertainment purposes. But one thing people don't think about is the demographic. The use for educational games is only as large as what people can learn from a game. To put it in black and white, educational games are meant for ages 4-10, while games for entertainment can be played by ages 8-60. In the end we think the effect of violent video games must end, much rather stop now then later. Video games have affected us so much that your generation is called "The Joystick Generation" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_behavioral_effects).  

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ORIGINAL TEXT FOR GRADING

In my study of "How do video games effect health and focus" I have found that the increasing numbers of violent video games have had a very negative effect on teens. I am able to state it so blandly because of the knowledge I have on the subject. Some people think video games are outstanding because they have both a educational utility as well as entertainment purposes. But one thing people don't think about is the demographic. The use for educational games is only as large as what people can learn from a game. As a 14 year-old myself I would not play a game meant to teach me to drawing conclusions from essays, or that congruent parts of congruent triangles are congruent. I would rather un-relentlessly fry my brain killing people in Call of Duty: Black Ops. To put it in black and white, educational games are meant for ages 4-10, while games for entertainment can be played by ages 8-60. In the end I think the effect of violent video games must end, much rather stop now then later. Video games have affected us so much that my generation is called "The Joystick Generation" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_behavioral_effects).  

Pro's/con's in video game studies PLN #4

  

  In my topic of "video games effect on health and focus" there are some very interesting studies being done on whether educational games out weigh violent games or opposite. Scientists that have been studying "the joystick generation" (my generation) have found that the violence level in video games have been increasing steadily for the last 10 years. In fact games that have the most realistic death animation usually get bought more than a fake looking one. Its all about the graphics, the game will get awards for "best shooter of '10" or "stunning graphics". I believe that the increasing level of violence has affected the teenage brain more for worse than better. I myself play a lot of violent video games and if I play for long enough I notice that everyday sounds become twisted and distorted to sound like a sound in the game. I may hear the dishwasher and it will sound like a Napalm strike, or hear something knocked off my shelves by a cat and think its gunfire from the game. Mostly I’ll think I hear something (random noise) and it will sound like a noise that the alien race in the game makes. But there are also the benefits of educational games. These games could get hand-eye coordination skyrocketing at a young age, or teach children cause and effect principles, it could also teach them how to read at a younger age. But over all, educational games are only as effective as there demographic. As a 14 year-old I would not play a science game teaching me about super nova stars, or aquifers. But any age of person can play a violent game, from 10 to 90, but only young people will play the educational games until they learn all that the game has. Those are some pro con issues my topic has.