Comments on: American Library Association Asks: Do Videogames Make Kids Smarter

By: Duddee

Duddee — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:10:15 +0000

I completely understand your view, but numbers are only numbers. We were kids at one point and did whatever made our superiors think higher of us. If your encouraged to check out a book because you sat there playing games all day, you will check out a book. What I want to see is some type of acknowledgment that they read the books that were checked out, via test or written report. If they could prove that at least 50% of the kids read and understood what they checked out, then I would be more than happy to support the theory and idea of integrating video games into a learning environment.

By: Shawn Sines

Shawn Sines — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:29:21 +0000

Actually, yes I do believe it will get them reading.. and apparently according to the library demographic information that is exactly what is happening. If going to the library is more than a handy euphemism and becomes less stigmatized then everyone wins. I’m more than a bit biased I guess because I’m a writer and an avid reader who laments the lack of interest most people put on reading for pleasure and reading for information these days.

By: Duddee

Duddee — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 20:23:26 +0000

Do you really think the kid is going to sit there reading a book when the excitement is on the projector/TV. Yes, it will open them to the environment, but I really don’t believe that it will get kids more involved with reading and school.

By: Shawn Sines

Shawn Sines — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:31:49 +0000

@DUDDEE: I think you’re missing the point.. the games themselves are not what is making the kids smarter.. its the exposure to the library.

By: Egglesplork

Egglesplork — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 17:34:45 +0000

_____Thank goodness… In a world full of bad punctuation, psychotic politicians and television-addicted computer-hating Luddite parents, some people with brains are taking the time to find out that video games do contribute to developing mental powers. Politicians hate anything that they didn’t have when they were growing up–i.e when they were a bunch of spoiled brats on their daddy’s millionaire estates. Semi-literate, beer-swilling parents, they would MUCH prefer their children to rot their minds on television rather than pick up “them damned games.” We currently live in a world largely run by people over five decades old (as shown by the age stats for congressmen in Congressional Quarterly, the oldest Congress yet). And this anti-video games trend won’t be going away for a good long while. It’ll maybe be a closer while with some librarians opening their minds a little…
_____Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time, in a neighborhood far away–like, three states away–a group of hard-working, hard-studying schoolchildren were derided by their Luddite parents. “Turn off that game!” said the parents. “Watch Tee-Vee…” Ignoring the mentally destructive rantings of those parents (one of which ended up in prison for pedophilia-related charges), the children continued to play video games…which bolstered their confidence and problem-solving skills. Those children then went on to graduate from college (with honors in some cases), run with the military and generally get good futures ahead of them. THE END, dudes and dude-ettes!

By: Duddee

Duddee — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 14:36:54 +0000

Guitar Hero does not make a kid smarter. I thought “oh what a great study!”. Now i see they are taking the results from Guitar Hero? Wow, that study just went down the shitter faster than a fat kid with diarrhea. Guitar Hero is a child’s game where they match colors to buttons, sound familiar to your 8 month old’s play set?

By: lololol

lololol — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 01:03:41 +0000

how can ppl read book and study if there was videogames in the library u obviously cannot concentrate and there would b tournaments going on, ppl hogging the controller etc.
there would b a huge confusion

By: Gigarayzor

Gigarayzor — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:56:29 +0000

My library has some games set up. Young kids stuff. As to whether video games makes children smart is hard to say, maybe smart children are just attracted to video games?

By: Shawn Sines

Shawn Sines — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:00:07 +0000

Yes, you should.. send them to the link and if you’d like I can even get the library director a direct contact with the Westerville director if they want to find out how they did it.

By: Teknomuffin

Teknomuffin — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:35:37 +0000

Wish my library had this, I should go suggest it.