Brain Good...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tommy Walz" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:26 AM
Subject: Re: Are video games "mindless" ?


Gee, we heard similar messages about rock n' roll in the 50's.  We must
all be mindless zombies by now.  Why do I have this compulsion to
stagger about and to eat human flesh?



Tommy Walz
Technology Coordinator
Barre Supervisory Union

>>> Steve Cavrak <[log in to unmask]> 12/19/2007 9:06 AM >>>

'Our family engages in "mindless" video games from time to time ...

Marc Prensky
http://www.wwwpcgamecheats.com/cheat-bodes-family-guy-video-game-
free/?p=67

'Our family engages in "mindless" video games from time to time … but

it’s treated like "junk food"'. It really has no "nutritional" value

for our minds.' — Ben Armstrong [1]

Like the observer above, many parents and critics express the opinion

that computer and video games are 'mindless,' i.e. that kids don't
learn anything beyond hand-eye coordination from the thousands of
hours they spend playing video games. Other critics express the
opinion that video games impart only negative messages and, in the
words of one, 'teach our kids to kill.' [2] Still others assert that
while players may learn 'about the game' they learn nothing 'useful'
about 'real life.'

I think all of these positions are wrong.

... Marc Prensky is the author of Digital Game-Based Learning (McGraw-

Hill, 2001).