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Scientists Ask for Gaming Research Funding
Ars Technica reports on a request by the Federation of American Scientists to support videogaming in education through government grants. The request comes via a report stating that gaming promotes higher-level thinking, and may eventually give students an edge in the modern global workplace. From the article: "The panel determined that there are, in fact, skills learned by video games that are of value to today's employers, including 'strategic and analytical thinking, problem solving, planning and execution, decision-making, and adaptation to rapid change.' Additionally, they found that video games foster goal-setting, practice in patience, and even team building. Carefully noting that there is a difference between video games developed for entertainment versus education, the FAS's report says that an emphasis in learning in video games could greatly benefit future generations of workers."
I mean, if it wasn't for internet pron I would never have learned to type/mouse with my feet.
P226
There's a reason the military conducts wargames.
"Piter, too, is dead."
are needed to buy gold for WoW.
It would be better if they just said that.
Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
I'm a gamer, I play lots! I've definitely learned things in games that I've applied in the outside world. Gaming can train you in the application of the Art of War, a study of general conflict, not necessarily restricted to military clashes. And through gaming, these ideas are not just learned, but applied.) And if it weren't for gaming, I wouldn't know jack diddly about computers since I wouldn't need that knowledge to address bugs, keep windows clean, and keep my hardware updated.
But really, these are fairly small things that can be learned through many other channels that bring more to the table.
If gaming is to be used as an educational avenue it will need serious modification in order to add the lessons while still maintaining the addictive qualities that keep us playing. And thus far, I don't think I've seen any educational games that have really held to this. If you want me to learn when I'm trying to have fun, it better be damn fun. Otherwise, I'll save my learning for when I want to learn(or in the case of kids, for when I have to learn).
Most brilliant scheme to afford a PS3 - EVER!
I don't know how we'd ever get any educational benefit from video games without the government getting involved!
Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
If they had meant "skills learned by playing video games" they should have phrased it that way or by either phrasing it as "skills taught by playing video games" or "skills learned from video games" It is incorrect to use it as "skills learned by video games" except in the case that the video games are actually learning skills (or you happen to be Yoda, which judging by how the rest of the article is phrase, Jacqui Cheng is obviously not Yoda).
Obviously we are going into an area where normal grammar rules are not enough. Grammatically, the past tense verb "learned" can be modified by any noun (such as "games", which in this case is modified as well by the word "video" which, while normally a noun itself, is used as an adjective). You could just as easily say "skills learned by lawnmowers" and it would be grammatically correct, but it would still be intellectually wrong (except as noted above which would make for a very scary group of garden equipment)
Also of note is that learn and teach are unusual verbs in that you can be taught and you can learn, but as you may have learned, you cannot "be" learned (as a verb (affecting a living creature. Other nouns can be learned by living creatures). As a multi-syllable adjective, you can.)
* Please note that have taken the liberty of using comedic effect to both further the education of some, while providing a good laugh to others.