The Kaiser Family Foundation's new report, Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-olds looks like the kind of research that I'd like to read to get better insight into the effects of multimedia on the next generation of students. Since I don't have the time at the moment, I'll have to be satisfied with these interesting notes from the report courtesy of Eide Neurolearning Blog:

Heavy video game use does not mean less reading - in fact heavy game players seemed to read more and spend more time with their parents (see full report for details of this)- but there seem to be some mixed results. Children with the poorest grades, had the lowest times spent reading (no surprise), but also spent more time each day playing video games.

Meanwhile, CBS News coverage provides a different look at the report, including a concern about multitasking:

What effect so-called "media multitasking" has on the often fragile ability of kids to focus is unclear because detailed research is quite new, said Vicky Rideout, the foundation vice president who directed the study.

Thought some of you might be interested in the Women in Games conference. Its aims are:

1. Analyse the role of women in the videogame industry.
2. Discuss the future of games that appeal to female gamers.
3. Provide an opportunity for women in the videogame industry to network.
4. Provide an opportunity to present and discuss the latest videogame research.

Games, Learning & Society Conference 2005: Call for Papers
June 23-24, 2005 . Madison WI
www.glsconference.com

Please see call for proposals for the Games, Learning &
Society conference to be held in Madison, Wisconsin June 23-24, 2005--www.glsconference.com.

Sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Academic ADL
Co-Lab, the GLS Conference will foster substantive discussion and
collaboration among academics, designers, and educators interested in
how videogames – commercial games and others – can enhance learning,
culture, and education. Speakers, discussion groups, interactive

Well, looks like the infamous Electronic Arts may be trying to be trying to buff its public image (or, more likely, exploit yet another public resource) by endowing a chair at USC. One of their own, Bing Gordon, will serve first in the chair, though it's slated to rotate every few years.

Yes, I would like to say, "Yippee, videogame studies is gaining some legitimacy in the academy." Unfortunately, EA represents all that is filthy and disgusting about the videogame industry, and their presence on a college campus can only be bad news. My guess is that all "research" that comes out of this department will demonstrate the technical superiority of EA's game technology--or explore ways they can further consolidate their control of the industry.