I really did not like this book.  I’ve read your posts and it seems like some of you liked it, and I tried to, I just could not get into it or really see the value.  I am not anti-gaming, or a luddite in anyway.  I played lots of different video games growing up from sports, to first person shooters, to RPG’s.  I’ve even recently discussed video games with my students in class, namely the best games ever (Goldeneye, Mario Kart and Chrono Trigger would be the top three).  I also still occasionally play a little Wii.  However, this book just did not do anything for me.

I did not feel that any of Gee’s ideas had any real world application for my classroom.  I agree with Nikki, he had some good ideas about science, but I did not feel that it really applied to a literature classroom.  Letting students “take the long way” and “peruse” sounds great, but I have thirty kids in my class at all times and I need to maintain some sense of coherence and control.  There were some principals he talked about that I strive for, but he did not really give me anything new to work with.  I will be the first to admit that I did not like the book almost immediately for whatever reason, and may not have given it a decent chance.  I read through it however, and even took notes (really enjoying using the index card as bookmark and note taking apparatus..thanks Abbie? I think).

I also feel the book is dishonest.  I am sorry to all the gamers reading this, but I feel that there are negative social effects of playing hours and hours of video games alone.  I do not buy the whole “affinity groups” thing.  Video games can lead to isolation.  I have seen plenty of examples.  There was a guy in college who dropped A WHOLE SEMESTER, because he was playing too much Diablo instead of going to class.  My friends and I had a Sunday ritual (Big Bowl Noodle House ya’ll) and our one friend would refuse to come with us because he had to slay a dragon every Sunday at eight with his guild.  Your online guild should not take precedence over your real life friends, standing in the room, asking you to come hang out.  This summer, one of my roommates, who had quit WOW-ing began to start playing again.  He just checked out.  He would spend hours just WOWing, and we lived a block from the beach.  You could say these are extreme examples, call me old fashioned or a “cranky pants” as I’ve been called, but I think children are better served playing outside, or maybe shovelling my sidewalk.

Oh, hi Pluto, it must be fun working at Disney Land. Although at any major theme park you live under the constant threat of terrorist attacks.