Violence in Video Games

Although most people will not classify Video Games as online learning, I do! Anything that teachs all people something is in my mind classified as online, CBT, learning. Well it has been going on for a long, long time. The Lone Ranger of years ago on radio taught that "Good" triumphs of "Evil." On TV it was Superman, the Lone Ranger, Tom Mix, Batman, even "The Terminator" portays "Good" over "Evil." But the computer mavens of today can find nothing "Good" but all "Evil" rules.
"Grand Theft Auto" and its ilk demonstrates that "Evil" is better than "Good." Every game on the street shows that to be a criminal is better than being the good guy. Being the terrorist is better than the "Good" "Honest" people of the world.

Now TV is portraying the video game. As explained on the Slashdot Blog states that the TV series "CSI" is getting into the act. Although the outcome is that the "good" guys win it will still show that the "Bad" may win out it smart enough.

Enough is enough when will the programmers begin to realize that "Bad" is BAD, and that they can not make a good apple pie out of rotten apples.

The Need for Online Collaboration

I find that most students do not participate in collaborative projects with the same effort as required in a f2f class. The procrastination of collaborative users is such that it can get done tomorrow.

Although the collaborative learning process does help students to achieve levels of knowledge based on the shared goals of the other users. Taking into consideration the separation of time and distance to all users, and their instructors and the dicussion based nature or these programs the collaborative environment is an asset in the learning process. To properly function in a collaborative environment students must develop the a process of sharing their beliefs and goals. They must also develop the need of urgency when working in a collaborative project. Responses should be completed quickly and as acurately as possible.

Learners engaging in the collaborative process tend to build a firmer foundation of learning than in a non-collaborative course. Collaboration tends to increase the students self-reflection on the topic or course being discussed.