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5 Responses to “Re-engaging Boys in Learning”

1. fondueguy Says:
   January 17th, 2011 at 9:58 pm

   It was a pretty good video. She addressed alot of very powerful points which were on the mark but she was somewhat subtle about it. For example she referenced the thinking that because we’re helping girls we shouldn’t help boys but didn’t didn’t expound much on that. Another example is when she was talking about teachers that belittled boys activities and simply asked the question his would it make you feel if someone belittled your culture, but she she didn’t directly say double standard or feminized environment. Probably the most powerful comment that slipped in her presentation was when she was talking about how a board room full of women without any male sympathizers (males and mothers) will have a VERY different tone. I think she was saying that they become very biggoted. (The school system belittls boys, ignores their problems, callously blamed them for their ills so I have no reason to think conversations without male sympathizers present wouldn’t be hateful).

   Like I said the video was good and if you pay attention it says alot about discrimination towards boys but I personally would have liked to see her much more direct; we would exaggerate girls problems and not be afraid of stirring the waters like we do with boys who are far behind in school.

   Anyways I think the idea of using video games to reach out to boys is a brilliant one. Despite the bad Rep I gave always taken pride that males embrace high end RPG games.

2. fondueguy Says:
   January 17th, 2011 at 10:02 pm

   Also here is a Newsweek article on the cognitive benefits of (certain) video games.

   http://www.newsweek.com/2011/01/03/can-you-build-a-better-brain.html

   Excerpt:

   ‘Finally, some videogames might improve general mental agility. Stern has trained older adults to play a complex computer-based action game called Space Fortress, which requires players to shoot missiles and destroy the fortress while protecting their spaceship against missiles and mines. “It requires motor control, visual search, working memory, long-term memory, and decision making,” he says. It also requires that elixir of neuroplasticity: attention, specifically the ability to control and switch attention among different tasks. “People get better on tests of memory, motor speed, visual-spatial skills, and tasks requiring cognitive flexibility,” says Stern. Kramer, too, finds that the strategy-heavy videogame Rise of Nations improves executive-control functions such as task switching, working memory, visual short-term memory, and reasoning in older adults.’

3. Ben Says:
   January 18th, 2011 at 7:53 am

   That was the dumbest thing I ever heard. Feminist rhetoric reversed, “Oh noes social constructionism is the reason why there is no equality. Its oppression. Therefore, we must deconstruct that because egalitarianism is the win!”

   This site should be cause Man-gina-ism

4. fondueguy Says:
   January 18th, 2011 at 11:52 am

   The term discrimination is not owned by feminists and Feminism is an ideology and movement capable of not being what they say they are.

   Feminists say there is discrimination towards girls. Are you really going to tell me feminists had no power or influence? You don’t think they intentionally effected the school system to help girls and continue helping girls even though boys are in fact doing much worse? Isn’t it discrimination by definition when girls are being focused on over boys while boys do worse?

   Ignorance is not manly.

5. Pelle Billing Says:
   January 18th, 2011 at 4:39 pm

   Ben, what’s your point? Besides having a strong urge to insult other people.

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