Blog #2

Gee

Thus, in video games like Deus Ex, stories are embodied in the player's own choices and actions in a way they cannot be in books and movies. When I use the term "embodied," I mean to include the mind as a part of the body. So "embodied" means, for me, "in the body" and "in the mind."

Falyn

I believe that books and movies are also "embodied" "in the body" and "in the mind" contrary to Gee's opinion. I think when you read, you are using full concentration to analyze and take in information to retain it in the body oppose to when you play a game and the game saves the information that was needed to complete a board. Information can be embodied no matter the semiotic domain, and just depends how much the movie, book, or game affects its audience. Video games as a tool that takes an alternative approach to learning that benefits more than books and movies can work in some cases but is not effective amongst all. I believe some genres of novels like erotica is catered to trigger physical as well as emotional senses and depending on the person some things can be embodied no matter what the source is.

Video games do provide player's with choices unlike movies and books and allows students to visualize and manipulate different possible outcomes. Movies and books allow students to imagine the possibilities and foreshadow beyond the book or movie. I believe video games offers an alternative to learning because you can see that your actions result in an immediate reaction, and kids are impatient and like to see things manifest. Books, video games, and movies alone may not be as effective as if they were incorporated as a unit to teach students.

Video games would be a great addition to the academic world and probably increase the amount of returned homework assignments.

Gee

There really is no other way to make sense. If all you know in any domain-are general meanings, then you really don't know anything that makes sense to you.

Falyn

I believe this statement is very valid. The educational system is geared to teaching general meanings which are necessary to pass standardized tests and once the tests are over students forget most of what they learned. The cliche use it or loose is very true, if something does not make sense to you outside of its meaning you really do not understand it, and you will forget it. I believe that is one of the major faults with the educational system because students are not taught to learn for everyday use and application to the real world but just to retain and regurgitate general principals for exams.

Gee

Unfortunately, such children are often the ones who get literacy in school completely detached from anything otherwise meaningful to them, as they are skilled and drilled to death.

Falyn

Reading or literacy is one of those academic areas that should apply more to your daily life than school because literacy is important in all aspects of life. A grasp of literacy will make you an effective listener, communicator, learner, and just build your overall quality of life. A person who can read and write will be able to compete both in their academics and in the real world. Literacy is apart of every academic subject and most of the time when students can not read and write well they suffer in more than one subject. Students often avoid reading books because most of the ones used in school are long and do not relate to their personal lives. Students are drilled with lessons on reading, writing, and comprehension that the essence of literature and creativity with writing is taken out of most lessons. Readings should pull students in and relate to exactly what they are going through and will face once in the "real world." But again academics is geared to follow a system that evolves on passing standardized tests rather than evoking embodied learning.