3-006 - The Digital Landscape as a Seldom Explored Context for Examining Cognitive Development during Middle Childhood

Session Type: Conversation Roundtable

Integrative Statement

During middle childhood, children are expected to show increasing cognitive sophistication in their executive functions, metacognition, and self-regulated learning (Flynn, Richert, Staiano, Wartella, & Calvert, 2014; Vanderventer & White). During this period they also are cited for their frequent engagement in the digital landscape (e.g., game design, game and mobile application play) in both recreational and educational settings (ESA, 2018; Project Tomorrow, 2016). However, examining exogenous factors that may influence cognitive development in middle childhood, such as children’s increasing immersion in game and app play, remains relatively limited compared to investigations among late adolescents and adults (Blumberg, Altschuler, Almonte, & Mileaf, 2013). In this conversation roundtable, we will address the need for closing this empirical gap and to discuss advancements as based in the panelists’ work. The panelists will highlight growing evidence that digital game design and play can positively influence youths’ cognitive skills. The timeliness of working with youth in middle childhood is underscored by increasing evidence for the potential benefits of videogame play for enhancing both cognitive (Bavelier, Green, Pouget, & Schrater, 2012) and socioemotional (Granic, Lobel, & Engels, 2014) behaviors.
Our goal is to encourage audience members to consider the value of examining the impact of digital game-based engagement on cognitive development in middle childhood. We will frame this discussion through multiple lenses, with research considering the developmental ramifications of game design, game features, children’s cognitive abilities that impact how they play, and children’s interaction with game characters during that play.
Fran Blumberg will moderate this conversation.

Sub Unit

• Technology, Media & Child Development

Moderator

• Fran Blumberg, Fordham University

Panelists

• Erica Kleinknecht, Pacific University Oregon

• Ashley A Ricker, Chapman University

• Rachel M Flynn, Northwestern University

• Sandra Calvert, Georgetown University