Bank Street CSM Presentation.v2
Bank Street CSM Presentation.v2
Bank Street CSM Presentation.v2
Video Games on
Our Children:
Advocate: Respected
nonpartisan voice - to
national policymakers, the
media industry, legislators
and thought leaders
CommonSenseMedia.org
/Educator
Common Sense Media
Education Programs
Digital Literacy &
Parent Education Citizenship Student
Program Curriculum
Teachers implement
Educators with students;
implement with includes
parents student/parent
activities
My media life is like a…
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What exactly are kids
doing with video games
and interactive media?
The average American child, 8 to 18, spends 53 hours per
week (7.5 hours per day) using technology.
Solitaire
Dance Dance Revolution
Stress 46%
Celebrity culture (i.e. role
models, etc.) 41%
• Community
• Collaboration
• Social justice
• Intrinsic motivation
• Deep understanding
• Active learning
• Taking kids seriously
– (borrowed from “Bank Street’s Progressive Education in
Context”, Alfie Kohn, 2010)
Hallmarks of Popular Video Games
Community
Collaboration
Social justice
Intrinsic motivation
Deep understanding
Active learning
Taking kids seriously
Games as Vehicles for Deep
Understanding and Active Learning
• Games are powerful vehicles for learning
– Provide an environment for working out ethical
decisions
– Highly collaborative (many games require
forming an effective team)
– 21st Century skills - great skills for job market
– Motivation, engagement and critical thinking
• “Learning to be” rather than “learning about”
– based on trail and error
(-John Seely Brown, USC, Xerox Corp, 2006)
Games as Vehicles for Social Justice
• Teens who take part in social interaction
related to the game, are more engaged
civically and politically. ( - Pew, 2008)
– 67% stay informed about current events
– 63% are interested in politics
– 74% are committed to civic participation
• Teens who played games with pro-social
themes engaged in more pro-social behaviors
( - Anderson & Gentile, 2010)
• Teens who played games with more civic
learning are more likely to raise money or
volunteer for charities. (- Pew, 2008)
What can a parent do to
help their children safely
navigate the world of
online- and video- games?
Tips for Elementary-age Children
• Establish time limits
• Encourage balance between game play and
other activities
• Choose good (and developmentally
appropriate) games
• Monitor use as much as you can – try to keep
game play in common spaces
• Talk about Internet rules and safety
• Talk about violence and its effects
• Be aware of multi-player options
Tips for Tweens and Teens
• Discuss what you think is appropriate. Help
your child choose good games.
• Beware of addiction. Set time limits and
encourage self-regulation. Take advantage of
natural breaks in the game.
• Review multi-player options. Discuss
Internet safety.
• Watch language. Use monitoring tools if
needed.
Tips for All Ages
• Talk to your kids about what they’re playing
(even if you don’t like it). Acknowledge the
positive aspects of their game play and
content.
• Buy the games you want them to play.
• Encourage “active gaming” (e.g. wii, kinect) –
they are calorie burners.
• Play with your kids. There’s no substitute for
an engaged parent!
Questions?
37
Panel Discussion: