Media Ecology and Learning
Case
Matthew (Young Athlete)
The young person I interviewed for my case study is an eighteen
year old male. His name is Matthew, he is American and Hispanic and lives in a
rural town in Taylor County, West Virginia.
He has one older brother and a younger sister and is from a middle class
family. Matthews’s parents are working professionals. Matthew is an average student and is always
pushing for improvement. At home he has
unlimited access to technology. The
family has a shared computer in their living room but for the most part they
all have their own computers or tablets.
In our interview Matthew shared with me that he has an iPod, laptop
that turns into a tablet and a smart phone (IPhone). There are some restrictions on his computer
usage; he is allowed access to the internet any time before 10:00 p.m. during a
school week and on weekends he can use internet before 12:00 a.m. he must be responsible
with what he searches and how he uses language online. Generally, Matthew uses
his smart phone the most; to text, and interact with his peers through
Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, YouTube, Vine, Safari, email, ITunes and
Instagram.
At school, his
technology access is a little more restricted.
The school has a computer lab used only for school assignments only half
the time he said the computer don’t work. Matthew, a writer for the school newspaper
focuses more on using his technology for recording interviews at school as part
of his assignments. This requires him to use his own devices Smart Phone.
Hanging Out
Matthew said, being an athlete I depends on my smartphone for
communication with my parents, coaches, peers, and to check in with my social
media. Sometimes when coming home from an away game I call my parents to let
them know I am on my way home or to find out what’s for dinner. I also use my
phone or keep up with live grades for school assignments and homework updates
and remind 101. His favorite thing to do with his laptop is to watch videos and
download music. I try to find a balance between doing it all so when I get to college
I can manage my time wisely. Already thinking about his college career.
Messing Around
Matthew is not much of a game player on the computer but
likes to plays games on his PS3, Game Cube, Gameboy and PSP. Matthew plays
online with out of state friends, his new game is Destiny. Matthew explained
that although he likes to play games he would rather go to the Mall shopping,
movies, and out to eat with friends and family. Playing video
games is more for in the evening and for when friends come over to just
hangout. Matthew added that the soccer team is really into playing FIFA and
that the players and the teams they create are very competitive.
I asked Matt if playing FIFA helped him play soccer. He said
yes, it helps me see my position on the field from a different perspective and
gives me a visual of the other players who are coming at me during the game. James Paul Gee (2005) argues that what gamers
learn is embodied empathy for a complex system. Video games players develop a
feel or intuition of how systems work. (Squire, 2011, p. 5)
Geeking Out
Matthew said “my goal is achieve the highest status in
Destiny” This new game has so much animation great
graphics and I like the stories. I really like creating my character
and all the weapons, I especially like playing live online with other players.
In the game there are three classes of characters a Warlock, Titan, and Hunter.
I am a male hunter. I asked Matthew about how many hours he spent playing in a day.
He said that he averages about three to four hours playing when he has nothing
to do and because it’s a new game. Another game he still likes to play is Call
of Duty, very popular among his friends.
Video games now include a diverse range of
experiences, from music simulation to multiplayer role-playing games with new
models of distributed leadership (Steinkuehler, 2006).
Schooling
Matthew uses his own laptop at school for taking notes in AP
Government, newspaper class, and for uploading music at lunch time. I like
using my laptop he said because it has all the updated software like Microsoft Word
2013, windows 8.1 and all the new media options which is important for me. I
also have a book window for Comics which allows me to click into it and open
all kinds of comic books. I asked Matthew if he was into poetry or any kind of
specific type of literature and he said “not really”.
Education
must continue to catch up to meet Digital Literacy in the 21st Century
if educators are
to generate communication
among digital natives.
