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A New Study from the Pew Internet and American Life Project.
- Teens, Video Games and Civics: Teens' gaming experiences are diverse and include significant social interaction and civic engagement. Virtually all American teens play computer, console, or cell phone games and that the gaming experience is rich and varied, with a significant amount of social interaction and potential for civic engagement. The survey was conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, an initiative of the Pew Research Center.
A New Study from The Digital Youth Project.
Right on the heels of the Pew study comes a new study from The University of California at Berkelely. "Kids' Informal Learning with Digital Media: An Ethnographic Investigation of Innovative Knowledge Cultures" is a three year investigation into the digital lives and habits of today's youth. A summary of the findings can be found at their web site and the final report will be published as a forthcoming book, Hanging Out, Messing Around, Geeking Out: Living and Learning with New Media.
One of the report's conclusions was that there was an impact to our educational institutions. To quote from the report summary, "Youths' participation in this networked world suggests new ways of thinking about the role of education. What, the authors ask, would it mean to really exploit the potential of the learning opportunities available through online resources and networks? What would it mean to reach beyond traditional education and civic institutions and enlist the help of others in young people's learning? Rather than assuming that education is primarily about preparing for jobs and careers, they question what it would mean to think of it as a process guiding youths' participation in public life more generally.
Spotlight: Blogging the Field of Digital Media and Learning
A related site to the Digital Youth Project report is Blogging the Field of Digital Media and Learning. The " Spotlight will provide a central focal point for "what's important" in the emerging field of digital media and learning." For those of you interested in keeping abreast of developments in the world of new media, this looks like an excellent place to bookmark.
Teaching, Gaming, and Learning
David McDivitt, a social studies teacher in Converse, Indiana, was an early adopter of InQuizitor. He is an advocate of the use of games in his classwork, with InQuizitor being just one of his choices. David authors a very interesting blog which, can be read HERE.
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