Video Games as a Learning Source

On Monday CBS news posted a study about how prevailent video games are in our society and what the civic benefits of gaming are. I play video games fairly frequently so I read the study and found some of their results to be a little redundant, but I also found some to be very interesting.

One of the more surprising facts that I learned was exactly how many teens play video games.
"Fully 97% of teens ages 12-17 play computer, web, portable, or console games" (2).
Also, the study showed a correlation to teens who play video games and their level of civic interest. Basically, the more engaged they are into the social aspects of gaming, the more they are involved. Additionally, the quantity of gameplay did not have an impact on the results.

I think that this is an interesting study because it shows possible benefits to playing video games, which is traditionally frowned upon by the general parental population, at least in my personal experience.

Citation:
Lenhart, Amanda, Joseph Kahne, Ellen Middaugh, Alexandra Macgill, Chris Evens and Jessica Vitak. "Teens, Video Games and Civics." Pew Internet and American Life Project 16 Sep 2008 19 Sep 2008 .

Welcome Post

Good morning! Ahh... I have yet to understand how the whole blogging thing works. It probably doesn't help that I don't read directions. Oh well, live and learn, right? Anyway, this is going to be my blog for the year. Once I get a sense of how to do this it should be filled with insightful and creative ideas. With any luck at all. And hopefully I'll become a more avid reader through doing this too! (If that's even possible.) At any rate, I think I'll have fun with this blog.

~Viv~