This week we examined “how games (particularly action games) can actually help train the brain and improve basic cognitive processes such as attention and vision.” We completed a survey and visual perception test.
Here is a link to one of our readings. I found this really interesting. Playing video games can improve cognitive functions in the frontal lobe used in tasks required long concentration and focus! That’s just amazing!
Weeks 2 and 3 of the course are now finished. They centred on the deeper subculture that surrounds games, understanding games as structuring identity, and game design. Its all still theoretical but its good to know the lingo if I’m ever talking about it with a gamer/researcher.
We recently presented the AIS ICT Integration Conference. It was a great two days and it was so exciting to be with like minded techies. One of my favourite presentations was by Michael Beilharz from Knox Grammar – you can see more about him in this article on their school blog. In the first half he talked about the Minecraft server they had set up and how many subjects had utilised this tool: English, History, Geography, Maths, and Science! Not many resources or tools for the classroom can boast of having such a broad scope of application. In the second half we were able to login to the schools Minecraft server and try to build a bridge. I can’t say I wasn’t terribly successful – using the desktop rather than the iPad will take some getting used to – but it was great moving around the space with the other participants.
I want to learn more so I have created a page of Minecraft to collate links, success stories, lessons and a few ideas if they should arise…
Going to try a course from the University of Wisconsin – Video Games and Learning.
Here is Week 1 homework.
