A recent article in The Chronicle of Higher Education discusses the evolution and incorporation of video games into the academic world, and their use as didactic devices.
The article markets the potentials of this relatively new medium with a discussion of how fun, yet educational games, could augment (or even replace!) the classroom.
In 20 years, are you going to remember anything you learned in English 15/30? Probably not. But you will have better teamwork skills because of the practice you received working in groups. Some of the most profound skills we learn here are how to listen to a presentation, how to interact with out peers, how to work in a group. Teaching through video games is certainly a new and revolutionary idea, but I think it's a slippery slope away from our humanity.
It starts with online classes and learning through video games, but it's not too far of a stretch to go from that to a Matrix-esque world; all of us plugged in and having information loaded straight into our brains. What do you think?
UPUA is holding a town hall meeting tomorrow January 27th at 7:30PM in 101 Thomas to kick off the spring semester.
This special opportunity to voice your concerns, opinions, comments, and questions is brought to you by the UPUA Student Life and Diversity Committee and the Department of Encampment.
If helping out PSU and having your ideas heard isn’t enough, maybe you can be cajoled by saving some meal point. That's right: free food will be provided.
However, considering that next year's schedule has fewer games, the price per game will stay the same.
Tuition, on the other hand, will almost definitely be increased. In a meeting with the Board of Trustees last week, Graham Spanier announced students should expect to see a tuition hike of between 2.9 to 4.9 percent.
Spanier also noted that the difficulty Penn State had attaining its appropriations this fall should have been a hint that tuition might have to be adjusted to compensate. If you haven't been paying attention, well, surprise!
As is it the media's job to play the blame game, let's start first with the Pennsylvania legislature. They wouldn't give Penn State the entirety of its appropriations request and now students have to make up the difference. Also, we can throw some blame on the university's representatives. Sure, they probably did their best, but why let facts get in the way of a good blaming? While we're at it, Graham Spanier probably had something to do with this monetary meltdown... and you thought he and Fast Eddy were friends!
But the main culprit, the real son-of-a-bitch responsible for the tuition hike, is NBC. They ruined late night TV and ultimately spurred the final decision to raise tuition.
It could be worse. Even a five percent increase isn't the end of the world (which is still in two years, btw). And at least Penn State isn't the University of California. They call that a riot? Raise our tuition 32 percent and we'll show UC how college rioting is done!
Last night, each of THON's fourteen committees sent forth a pair of Captains to compete in the first ever Mr. and Mrs. THON pageant, held in HUB Alumni Hall. The event, true to the spirit of THON, raised money FTK-- $613.42 to be precise-- but more than that, it showcased the contagious enthusiasm that will permeate the BJC in just three short weeks.
Based on the opening dance and their talent performances, three Captain pairs were chosen as finalists. The Captains from the Hospitality, OPPerations and Family Relations committees were named as the final three pairs. Steve Dodge and Jeannine Bradbury (OPPerations) were chosen as runners-up, and Jony Rommel and Dave Belliveau (Family Relations) were crowned Mr. and Mrs. THON 2010.
The contestants were judged by a panel consisting of Evan Royster, starting running back for the Nittany Lions; Lou "the mic guy" Defazio from the cheerleading squad; Justin Ross, Blue Band President; and Homecoming King and Queen, Greg Tallman and Cri Cri Henry. Overall Chair Caitlin Zankowski and THON Advisor Barry Bram hosted the event. The pageant also featured performances by the Overall Committee and a speech by a former Four Diamonds child turned Penn State nursing student and Morale committee member.
http://www.onwardstate.com/staff/chase/mrmrsthon/soundslider.swf?size=2&format=xml
In December 2005, alumni and friends of Penn State donated $44.4 million. Sounds like a lot, right? This past December, those alumni and friends donated over $58 million, setting a new fundraising record (in a single month) for Penn State.
President Spanier had the following comment, according to Penn State Live: "Our donors continue their loyalty to Penn State, and we are most grateful to each of them for their exceedingly generous support, which is essential to the University's future."
Of the December total, 31,000 donors gave over 37,000 gifts. Eleven of these gifts surpassed $1 million.
Penn State hopes that this new record will fit into an upcoming crescendo of gift-giving, culminating in the "For the Future" campaign, a fundraising initiative beginning on April 23, 2010. The campaign emphasizes education affordability for students of modest means.
Will the recession impact this year's donations? Slim personal budgets may cause donors to purchase necessities rather than partake in philanthropy. However, let's hope our wonderful alumni choose to give back to dear old State.
Penn State senior and self proclaimed "social media addict" Han Ma posted a picture of his canning group being shown on a huge screen in the middle of Times Square. Also, he let us know that John Mayer apparently showed up at the Hope Gala on Friday night for THON.