Interview of Adolescent boy (age 14)

(friend of my son)

Do you use technology in school?

“Yes, we use iPads and computers for math and essay writing, sometimes for tests. They also let us use our ipods if we are done with our work.”

Do you use “learning games” in school?

“Sort of” We use QR scanners. You put in your QR code which goes to a url to do math learning games. Sometimes it’s math questions, sometimes its games that are math related.

Do you like the online learning games?

“Sort of” I like the same and math books. Sometimes it’s more interesting.”

Do you use video or online gaming? What kind?

“Yes, Call of Duty, Wii games, Minecraft, Clash of clans where you play with groups. There are 5 different clans at our school. You sometimes know all the people in the clan and sometimes you don’t”

Can you describe the kind of interactions in Clash of Clans?

Clan battles we haven’t done yet. We help out members of our clan and lend troops.

Do you read books for pleasure?

 “Sometimes, but I don’t have time to a lot any more”

If you had time would you?

“I guess so, I did last year”

How much screen time to you have?

“Maybe a couple of hours. Not everyday. It depends on what else I’m doing and who is around”

How old were you when you starting playing online or video games.

“I think 8 years old, but only at friends or my cousin’s house when we visited them”

Do you have a mobile devise? If so, when did you get it?

“Yes, I was13 years old, but it’s not a phone, it’s just an ipod and I can only use it in wifi”

Do you want a phone?

“Yes”

How do you learn new games?

“Play them and get better. Get friends help.”

Do you get frustrated by new games you haven’t played before?

“No, only if they are boring.”

How do you study and do you homework?

“I don’t really study because it doesn’t work for me. I just remember the stuff from when I’ve been in class. I also do my home at friends houses and at school.

How do you arrange to meet friends?

“Text them”

What do you do with your friends?

Meet each other in person at each others houses or on “the block”. Play nerf war, football, baseball, gaming, watch TV movies or Youtube.”

What excites you when you think of the future?

“I don’t think about the future”

What do you think about when your hear the word “community”

“The block”

What helps you learn?

 “Taking notes, going to class, sometimes watching videos.”

What stops you from learning?

“Boredom. Boring bad teachers. The videos in math class are terrible and don’t help at all”