Carr-Chellman’s Tedx talk, Gaming to re-engage boys in learning, explained how gaming, one of the most notorious aspects of male culture, can help engage young boys at school. According to Carr-Chellman, schools are seeing a problem with the regulation and hyperactivity of boys that is affecting their engagement in learning. “Boy” culture is not valued in schools which can impact their engagement in what they are learning.
Carr-Chellman identifies some alarming statistics comparing young boys with girls. Please note that these statistics and information is regarding American schools but there are similarities in the Canadian school systems as well. It’s also important to note that all boys are different and their actions and behaviors are based on the individual. Carr-Chellman’s video demonstrates a problem regarding boys lack of interest in school and ways to address these issues.
According to every 100 girls project
For every 100 girls who are suspended, there are 250 boys.
For every 100 girls who are expelled, there are 335 boys.
For every 100 girls in a Special Education program, there are 217 boys.
For every 100 girls with a learning disability, there are 276 boys.
For every 100 girls with emotional disturbances, there are 324 boys.
This data however has even higher rates for lower socio economic and overcrowded schools. What’s more alarming is that boys are 4x more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
Carr-Chelman believes that the lack of boys’ interest in school can be attributed to the following:
- In schools there are rigid rules with zero tolerances for writing about and talking about many things that boys are typically interested in, such as video games.
- There are fewer male teachers, which means fewer male role models in schools. Boys may feel a lack of belonging.
- There is a serious problem with compression of the curriculum. Teachers are stressed with getting through the curriculum and testing their students. This results in putting pressure on the students to conform to the rigid rules of the class and some students may not be developmentally ready and they fall behind.
Carr-Chelman believes it is time we meet the needs of the boys and get more involved in their culture. Carr-Chellman suggests that we need to design games that interest and educates them. In conclusion, Carr-Chellman strongly states that video games are not the problem but rather a symptom. We need to address the needs of our boys and to take a page from their play book and find strategies to help engage them in their education.
https://www.ted.com/talks/ali_carr_chellman_gaming_to_re_engage_boys_in_learning?language=ry
megc
September 22, 2019 — 11:32 pm
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for sharing that TEDtalk! I think that the point you articulated a great point from Carr-Chellman about the importance in finding ways for boys (and all students) to engage more deeply with learning, by providing them with learning opportunities that inspire or excite them. I also think that one of the challenges in engaging students through video games is that it can be challenging to find ones, or topics that are deemed “school appropriate” and are educationally sound, or even content that is expected for school. For example, during journal writing a student may want to write about/describe a violent video game that they played at home on the weekend. By discouraging them to write about that topic, they may then lose the motivation to engage in writing – but it can also be uncomfortable as an educator to let them write about violent experiences through video games… Thanks again for sharing, it has inspired some self-reflection on my part!
mrsandersenswestcoastclassroom
September 23, 2019 — 12:48 am
Hey Sarah! Thanks for posting! Boy stats scare me especially having 2 boys of my own! I totally think that school, especially early years, is designed for girl brains generally. So what are we going to do about it? My sister-in-law is middle/high school science teacher and she gamifies everything. She turns many units into these crazy challenges and gets all the kids excited to learn.
Both my boys play Minecraft. I had and still have very limited knowledge about how to play and what it entails. However, my eldest creates these elaborate buildings and has crazy spatial awareness. I played with him for the first time last weekend and I got lost in an underground tunnel and he said something like “go up, now left, then right, up that ladder, turn around, right, keep going, up again…blah blah,” and on and on and he knew exactly where I was. All I saw was grey blocks surrounding me! HA!
Anyway, I think we as educators do need to engage the boys and meet them where they are. I’m not familiar with your curriculum but the updated BC curriculum definitely encourages educators to use a variety of tools to get students involved in their own education.
laucoo
September 23, 2019 — 7:38 pm
Thanks Sara for sharing this! I never thought of video games as a ‘symptom’ before and Carr-Chellman makes some valid points about how boys have become disengaged with their education. I often want to just let kids play their imaginative games that involve guns, however, it is often a school rule at many schools that I have worked at that there is a no gun policy (even if it’s pretend or a gun symbol with thumb and pointer finger). This is also similar to the rough and tumble type of play, most schools have a complete hands to yourselves policy as well. What would happen if schools just let this type of play happen? Would we see more engagement from boys? This would be something interesting to research and document!