04/16 Reflection

The study’s main point is to explain how the Arthur Interactive Media game created works, and how it affects different people and age groups and why. Cross-age peer dyads are introduced by the buddy system with this game as the need for conversation is required to reflect on what is happening. The paper also writes on the fact that digital media has a positive outcome, since the children can interact with it easily. The participant choices are varied, and the procedure has the steps of meeting and getting to know your buddy, reading and talking together, and reflecting. As it turns out, many teachers were very satisfied with the program, and most students had deep conversations when necessary. The paper wants to stress the idea that promoting character in young kids is very important and should be sought for, as this game implements humility and forgiveness. The video is also about AIM and how children need to gain skills but see them in action and discuss them, which is what AIM does. The game is interactive and allows children to explore these issues in school. These give the kids the necessary characteristics such as empathy and generosity by giving them the perspective of others. The interactive sessions with buddies make it effective because it brings everyone closer together as discussion is induced. they spend time with their buddies. After reading these, I played the AIM game. It begins by Arthur making fun of one of his friends, and this escalates until she gets hurt by the comments. His friends think it’s funny at first but realize it isn’t at the end of it. The purpose of the game is to teach kids that teasing someone after they’ve asked you to stop is bullying. The questions within the game guide the reader along to understand what each character should and shouldn’t do.

I think this game would be very effective, and I wish we were able to do something like this when I was in school. During elementary school we often did workshops with our class on what types of behavior is okay, but I think it would’ve been much better if we did character development, even at that young of an age. Also, our classrooms only had 1st-3rd grade, so we never met or knew older students until we were in middle school. The buddy program would be interesting to see first hand because interaction is key in AIM. It is very cool to see schools creating this sort of media in order to create well rounded and better shaped future citizens– I think the school systems have finally grasped how necessary this is for us. Starting early is never a bad choice when it comes to situations like there, and using the tools around us makes it that much easier. I think it would be a great opportunity to be on a team who works on creating games like these since they have such a significant impact on students at that age.

If you were tasked with making and implementing a game like this in schools, how would you go about doing it?