Johnson Reading

• If everything "bad" is indeed good for you, what does this mean for the world of Libraries and/or Educational organizations?
• Feel free to disagree, just back yourself up with some good info

I found the second half of the Johnson reading to be as equally interesting as the first. The hypothesis presented which connects the variables of the Sleeper Curve discussed in the first portion of the book with the overall rise in IQ is quite convincing. The more advanced skills acquired from pop culture such as the probing and telescoping techniques as well as complex narratives seem to positively impact pattern recognition skills in IQ tests. With such positive impacts, I believe it is crucial for the educational community as well as library organizations to re-evaluate their current curriculum and/or structure to incorporate the power of such findings. Perhaps by applying the techniques of the gaming world to traditional educational content may further increase the scores in math and verbal areas of IQ.

Another component that would be valuable to transpose from the gaming world to the educational and/or library organizations is the reward structure. It is very easy to acquire motivation and participation when a reward system is in place. Application of the probing and telescoping techniques as well as complex narratives along with a set reward structure would create a more engaging and interactive learning environment. Although I was a fairly studious child, I would always be interested in the practical use for many of the theories, formulas, or other information I was taught. If a specific reward can be presented for learning the subject at hand, such as, you need to learn A in order to complete B and C and obtain Z reward I feel I would have been more attentive and inclined to learn. I feel it would be incredibly advantageous to continue probing the notions brought to light by Steven Johnson and begin to put a more positive spin on today's pop culture.