- I believe one reason online gaming is so popular is because it provides the user an "escape" from their reality and a "break" from the real world for an amount of time. I think there are definite drawbacks for being engaged in these activities, particularly for long periods of time. One drawback is decreased socialization with others and isolation, which can lead to a sense of isolation/loneliness and depression. While these drawbacks are not necessarily any different from the negatives of increased amounts of time on social media, I think the online gaming world can also be dangerous because for young children it can expose them to concepts and dangers that they might not be developmentally prepared for. The violence in some of these games can lead to different kinds of thinking and can weigh on young children both in and out of the classroom. While some online gaming can be problematic, I do think there is a wide range and some can be academic and even brought into the classroom settings. With coding and STEM science on the rise, I think when students are using logic and reasoning in planning and working in the design process of these games they can become more educational. In addition, some online games help students review concepts they could be struggling with (phonics, math facts). These more automatic concepts that can be expected of most students in school, but can be hard for some students to master, can be aided with online games. Students might even be more motivated to learn using them!
- As a grad school student and full time teacher, I find more and more that I am constantly writing EVERYTHING down. I use one large agenda/planning book for everything. While I do feel like I hit cognitive overload at times throughout my day, breaking down each week into smaller goals (readings, big projects, etc) and prioritizing and checking off these as I go helps me feel accomplished and successful. It also helps my organizational capacity.
- To help myself remember new things, I write them down. I always take notes in class. I can usually solidify new information by telling or sharing it with someone else.
