Cognitive Wellbeing Forum

1. Why is online gaming so popular? Are there drawbacks to being engaged in these activities? Do you think they offer opportunities for learning or are they just passive pastimes?

I think online gaming is so popular because it allows people to take their minds of everything else going on in their lives. When you are online gaming, you are distracting your mind from everything else on top of one’s to do list. Even with the mirror online gaming we had to play as the prompt of this module, I found myself continuing to play more of the games even after just playing the one we were required to because I want to distract myself from all of the work I have to complete this weekend. I do think that there are drawbacks to being engaged in these activities since they cause people to look at screens and technology more than they should, especially now during this era of covid-19. If these games are educational and intended for educational purposes, I do think that they offer opportunities for learning. For example, if teachers are using educational apps or websites such as Seesaw, kahoot, nearpod, or showbie to play games with students, I think it does offer opportunities for learning, but it needs to be done in the right way.

2.How do you manage your study schedule when faced with doubt about your capacity to engage, learn, and succeed?

I actually do very well when I am stressed and I am not sure if I will succeed with an assignment. It makes me do a lot more research and look back at course material ahead of time to make sure that I know all the information I need to know in order to engage and succeed in completing the assignment. I also make sure to study for classes or subjects that are harder for me first so I have more time to do them and then study for the easier classes or exams.

1. What do you do to help yourself remember new things? For example, do you create concept maps to link connected ideas? Share some of your ideas.

I usually make a list of all of the things I need to do on a large post it and stick it to my folder where I carry all of my graduate work like syllabi, worksheets, or notes. I create a very simple version of a concept map to link connected ideas. For example, this semester I am enrolled in the three graduate courses and therefore have three different columns on my large post it note. I go crossing off each assignment as I complete it under each respective column. This system helps me see how much I have accomplished and how much I have left to complete.