Media Literacy Activity: Digital Gaming and New Technologies

Introduction

Activity Objective

In this activity, you will apply the critical process to explore how digital gaming has changed with the development of new technologies.

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Reviewing the Critical Process

Developing a media-literate critical perspective involves mastering five overlapping stages that build on one another. Let’s review the critical process you’ll be using below:

  1. 1. Description: paying close attention, taking notes, and researching the subject under study
  2. 2. Analysis: discovering and focusing on significant patterns that emerge from the description stage
  3. 3. Interpretation: asking and answering “What does that mean?” and “So what?” questions about one’s findings
  4. 4. Evaluation: arriving at a judgment about whether something is good, bad, or mediocre, which involves subordinating one’s personal taste to the critical “bigger picture” resulting from the first three stages
  5. 5. Engagement: taking some action that connects our critical perspective with our role as citizens to question our media institutions, adding our own voice to the process of shaping the cultural environment

Description

Use the following prompts to gather information about digital gaming over time:

  1. Identify ways that digital gaming has changed from the time you first played any type of game which used digital technology. What were the first digital games you played at home or school?
  2. List as many digital games as you can. Include older games or variations of games that aren’t available or played much anymore.
  3. Ask others to help you add digital games to your list.

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.

Analysis

Look for patterns that emerged while you were gathering information about digital gaming over time.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Interpretation

Now, let’s explore the meaning of the patterns you found regarding digital gaming technologies.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Evaluation

Through the following questions, assess whether technology has changed digital gaming for better or for worse or both.

Use the text boxes provided to answer the following questions.

Engagement

Let’s take action! Consider what you’ve discovered about digital gaming technologies over time and identify ways that digital gaming technologies could make for a better gaming experience for you and others.

Use the text box provided to answer the following question.