Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Can playing Tetris really alter your brain?

Posted by doug On March - 1 - 2010ADD COMMENTS

Can playing Tetris really alter your brain?

Tetris cookiesI came across this article on the Wired UK website. It claims that playing Tetris can alter the structure of the brain; which is quite a bold, one might even say, alarming claim.

It appears that researchers have used brain scans to illustrate that playing the simple computer game had distinct effects upon the brain. It would appear that some areas showed greater ‘efficiency’ and other areas showed the development of more grey matter.

brain1

Unfortunately, the article does not really tell us what parts of the brain were found to be more efficient nor which ones developed more grey matter (or indeed whether there was any cognitive improvement as a result of having more grey matter).

Cynically, you notice that the research was funded by ‘Tetris’ makers, so I guess they had an interest in promoting potential positive benefits of using their game. The research also seems to have studied only the brains of adolescent girls, why not boys? Had the researchers assumed that boys might already have played or been exposed to such games and, therefore, were less likely to show any benefit?

Cynicism aside, the research would tend to add weight to the view that playing games is not just a mindless activity or distraction from real thinking. It does tend to show that playing games can act as a mental stimulant. Which may also lend weight to the view that playing games can have a beneficial education effect. Stimulating the brain, relieving boredom have been known for a log time to be of benefit in learning. So maybe, playing games such as Tetris can be beneficial. YOu do have to put this against the addictive nature of some games, however, and ask at which point does the positiove benefit of mental stimulation give way to the time-wasted element of addiction?

Finally, the article makes a claim that playing Tetris could help offset the effects of old age; another bold claim which may or may not be the case.

Related articles by Zemanta
Can playing Tetris really alter your brain?

Possibly Related Posts:


Post to Twitter Post to Digg Post to Ping.fm Post to StumbleUpon

Uncategorized

Is this … the Worst iPhone App Ever?

Posted by doug On January - 25 - 20101 COMMENT

The above is a video of the Balloons iphone app. I have had to put a video up because I cannot show it to you as it will not work on my ipod touch. Why do I ask, though, whether this is the worst iPhone app ever?

This app runs only on the iphone, not only that but it runs just on the iphone with the latest software update. It does not run on older iphones without the update and it does not run on the ipod touch (even if it does have the latest update). Needless to say, it does not run on any other OS such as Android or Windows Mobile. So much for interoperability, then! 

In a way, this app is elitist, only people prepared to spend money on the top of the range kit will have a chance to play with it. The fun, the experience and the educational potential of this app will be lost to the majority of people, who do not have access to such top of the range kit.

At this point, I shall reveal that my tongue is quite firmly in my cheek as I write this post. The app is really great; it is innovative, imaginative, fun and has great educational potential, if you have an iphone capable of running it, then I’d suggest getting it.

To me, though, this app illustrates where interoperability breaks down and that’s my point in this article. Interoperability will only work as far as common standards are in place. Yet, to differentiate their product from others, manufacturers are likely to add extras which make their product more ‘desireable’ in the marketplace. programmers and marketers are then likely to ‘exploit’ these desireable extras in order to sell the product and then it’s ‘goodbye interoperability’.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying that interoperability is a bad thing, actually I think it is a good thing but the level of commonality and interoperability must be so high as to make additional extras either unnecessary or appear extravagant.

Oh, if you want to install the balloons app, you can find the home page here.

Related articles by Zemanta
Is this ... the Worst iPhone App Ever?

Possibly Related Posts:


Post to Twitter Post to Digg Post to Ping.fm Post to StumbleUpon

Uncategorized

Retro Teaching

Posted by doug On December - 16 - 2009ADD COMMENTS
John Richmond glasses featuring Karlijn
Image by AndyRamdin | Ducked.nl via Flickr

 

I hate going to the opticians. I hate it not just because it can be expensive and not just because I don’t like being told my eyesight is not as good as it used to be. I hate it because I do not like the current fashion in spectacles. To me, this current ‘retro’ look with thick frames and solid, heavy look arms is very reminiscent of the spectacles we used to have in the 1960s.  I guess that’s why it’s called ‘retro’. Okay, I know the spectacles we buy nowadays are not the same as those in the 1960s, they’ve employed newer technology to make the lenses thinner and the frames lighter, technology has also created lenses with varifocal correction rather than just single vision correction of the past.

 

 

 

A Fiat 500 in Turin. Fiat is Italy's largest i...
Image via Wikipedia

 The trouble is that during the first 9 years of the 21st Century, ‘retro’ seems to be everywhere; it’s as if we are having trouble facing the modern 21st century world. Take my wife’s car for example, I recently bought her a new Fiat 500 which is designed to look much like the Fiat 500 of the 1960s but which uses modern technology to make the ride safer and more comfortable.

Then there’s my neighbour’s wife’s car, which is a BMW mini. This again is designed to mimic the looks of the classic 1960s mini but which uses modern technology to create a car that is more pleasant and safer to drive.

So what does all this tell you, apart from the fact that my neighnour appears to earn more money than I do? Well it tells us that the ‘retro’ style is very much in vogue at the start of the 21st century. This is possibly because we are uncomforatble with the modern 21st century image or that no one is quite sure what the 21st century image should be.

The trouble is that ‘teaching’ can also have a retro look about it which is reminiscent of the 1960s whith the teacher at the front dictating to rows of desks with the top pupils at the front or to groups of tables with the best pupils having best view of the teacher.  As with cars and spectacles, this form of teaching nowadays also makes use of modern technology, it has a couple of computers on the side and a whiteboard with projector at the front. The trouble is, it is still an outdated style of teaching despite its use of technology.

We have to ask, though, why this style of teaching is still evident today? Is it just that this is what teachers are comfortable with, is it that this was the way teachers were (are?) being trained to teach? Or is it that nobody is really sure what 21st century teaching should be like?

To me, this is the real challenge. When we talk about Next Generation Learning or transforming learning or personalised learning, nobody has yet given a clear image of what this sort of learning should be like. This has led to confusion, bemusement and some opposition among teachers and educationalists. Those of us involved in technology and education need to present a clearer picture of what modern learning is to be like and how technology can support this.

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Possibly Related Posts:


Post to Twitter Post to Digg Post to Ping.fm Post to StumbleUpon

Transforming Learning, Uncategorized