EXAMPLES
OF IDEOLOGIES USED IN POKEMON TO BE UTILIZED WITH THE PRESENT SCHOOL CURRICULUM
A
Research Paper Presented to
The
English Resource Center
School
of Multimedia Arts
Asia
Pacific College
Magallanes,
Makati
In
Partial Fulfilment
Of
the Requirements for the Course
ERESWRT
– Research Writing
Ian
Jev Angelo I. Viernes
April
2014
Chapter 1
INTRORUCTION
A. Background of the Study
Nowadays most children, even young
adults, have difficulties in studying. Children will either not listen to
teachers or would be uninterested in school works. This is the main cause of
fluctuating grades and failing to submit requirements to pass their subject.
In an article made by Schunk, he stated
that children with difficulties in studying would be bored and uninterested
with school related activities. He discussed that most children waste their
time by inducing themselves into activities that would hinder their study time
by falling asleep in class, or trading school hours to enjoy non-academic
aspects of school, such as sports or club and extracurricular activities.
Schunk stated that “they would be less engaging towards having
connections with the school because they have extreme discomfort with teachers
and/or lack friends to compete with in studying,” (http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/school_problems_teenagers.html).
According to the researcher’s findings,
children with difficulties in studying are bored and interested because there
are things out there that serve more importance to them, rather than just
studying. The researcher believes that children nowadays put more effort into
things that would be favorable to them and enjoyable. The researcher also
believes that school is just a mediocre thing for students.
In an article by Barlette, he suggests
that children are not uninterested in school, but in fact they only give more
importance to things that are enjoyable and give them leisure. Children believe
that they should only play rather than do work.
Barlette stated that “children give more importance to matters
which give them both their intellectual and emotional needs,” (https://chronicle.com/article/The-Case-for-Play/126382/).
With that said, children at these ages
would rather play than study. They settle into playing in their free time to
prevent themselves to succumb into depression. They would trade working on
their homework which only cramps their mind into hard thinking, with something
that is enjoyable and requires less mind thinking. Lack of enjoyment in
children would cause them to be sad, and then lead to improper management of
activities.
According to Entin, a child who doesn’t
play affects his or her way of living. It leads to misjudgment and depression,
and alters their way of living their lives. It affects their daily activities
because without enjoyment, they would think that they only live to serve, and not
fun which is society’s way of thinking.
Entin states that “lack of play affects a child’s emotional development, leading to
control,” (http://theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/all-work-and-no-play-why-your-kids-are-more-anxious-depressed/246422).
The researcher believes that including
the popular gaming franchise, “Pokemon,” as a part of the school curriculum may
solve many problems children encounter in school. After all, Pokemon is a
widely known media franchise and had been going on for more than ten years. It
may help children to be more attentive and more responsive in terms of
discussions and recitations. Play may help children solve many problems
children encounter in school.
The information on the research paper
is important because it will help teachers innovate new ways of handling their
classes by making students interested on the subject matter. The research paper
will help the instructors to see Pokemon from a different point of view. This
would give them new knowledge and better understanding and utilize it for their
profession.
With all these information and concepts
to be discussed in the paper, the purpose of this study is to show instructors
different correlations and interrelations between the current curriculum and
Pokemon. This paper will exhibit examples and methods shown in the gaming
franchise o help children understand the lessons and thus be more attentive to
class.
B. Statement of the Problem
The study aims to answer the question:
1. What are the different ideologies
used in Pokemon that can be utilized with the present school curriculum?
C. Significance of the Study
People In General. This study would make them notice that gaming franchises
does not only offer time for leisure but also gives a way for someone to learn.
This research paper would assist in their evaluation and change how they see
games. This paper is important because it will enlighten people and will let
them think twice in their judgment for gaming.
Elementary, High School and College Teachers and Professors. This study would benefit the teachers and professors of the
different school levels as they can use this as a reference with the carious
ideologies and concepts in order to incorporate them into their lectures and
discussions. They can use different information presented in this research
paper.
Elementary, High School and College Students. This study would serve great help for students currently
taking up multiple subjects as they would gain knowledge and see studying from
a different point of view. The researcher hopes that this would widen their
perspectives and help them on understanding more lessons in order for them to
cope with able students.
Future Researchers. Researchers who will have related topics as in this research
paper would take this as a very useful reference tool because they can utilize
the information presented in this research paper and can cite this as one of
their sources of studies. It would be easier for them because the research
paper gives detailed and structured data about related studies. This research
paper would also need further explanation on how to properly utilize the game
into teaching materials.
D. Scope and Delimitation
This research paper would discuss about
the different factors and methods that Pokemon show that would help students
understand different topics discussed in school in a different way. The
researcher would feature different articles and readings that would give
detailed data about this study. The researcher would also descriptively explain
the different correlations of Pokemon and the present school curriculum.
The researcher would not tackle other
subjects not discussed in the paper for the paper was restricted to be
conducted under times limit even though there may be more studies to be
discussed and ideas to be connected. This would allow an emphasized and
detailed discussion about the several topics to be discussed. Also, the
research is conducted here in the Philippines, so it will only follow the
present academic curriculum which is the K-12. Even though time was a huge
factor in conducting this research, the researcher has thoroughly done his best
in order to produce the best quality of information that will be supported with
resources that are reliable and accurate.
E. Materials and Methods
The researcher gathered most of the
research paper’s data from online articles, journals and blogs. The researcher
also followed the format provided by the subject adviser. The researcher took
the most vital and necessary data with each media and filtered the unwanted
information, but still making the paper easy to read and understandable.
The data gathered will be analyzed
thoroughly and will be presented through the method of connecting different
ideas from Pokemon with the different subject matters of the present
curriculum.
Chapter 2
DISCUSSION
What are the different ideologies used
in Pokemon that can utilized with the present school curriculum?
Different ideologies in Pokemon that
can be utilized with the present academic curriculum
A. Biological Evolution
Biological evolution is a phenomenon
which presents the gradual development of an organism from a lower, simple to a
higher, complex form. Evolution is the process by which different kinds of
living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier
forms during the history of the Earth.
Evolution is defined in the
Merriam-Webster Dictionary as a “change
in the generic composition of a population during successive generations, as a
result of natural selection acting on the generic variation among individuals,
and resulting in the development of new species.”
The idea of evolution is always
prevalent in the Pokemon games, as well as in its other media. The idea of
evolution in Pokemon presents a rapid growth in development from a creature
when certain conditions happen. Pokemon evolve from a simple creature to a more
complex form.
In an article entitled “Pokebiology
101: Evolution and The Enigma of Eevee,” by McCright, the author described the
evolution in Pokemon happens when a Pokemon transforms into a different looking
creature once the criterion is met. The author states that the evolution in
Pokemon is scientifically inaccurate, but it can give children an idea on how
evolution works. The author stated that biological evolution is the change in
the heritable characteristics of a population over successive generations. The
idea of Pokemon evolution in Pokemon is actually metamorphosis, and
polyphenism. An example of polyphenism would be Eevee branching out into
different forms, while in Earth bees and ants polyphenise in the same way as
well.
McCright stated that “Pokemon evolution is actually following the
idea of metamorphosis, which is the change of the body structure of an
individual that happens abruptly during their lifetime. The idea of polyphenism
was stated as well, which happens when multiple discrete set of observable
characteristics can come form the same genetic background because of the
differences in the environment,” (http://freethoughtblods.com/blaghag/2013/02/pokebiology-101-evolution-and-the-enigma-of-eevee/)
B. Taxonomy
Animals are classified in order to
determine their natural relationships. Us humans determine animals by their
appearance, genes, kingdoms, classes and so on. Animals are named for
organization and classification.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, taxonomy is “the proves or system of describing the way
in which different living things are related by putting them in groups”.
Each Pokemon has their own specified
groups. Pokemon was in need for taxonomy and were methodologically arranged. In
article entitled “A Phylogeny and Evolutionary History of Pokemon,” written by
Cellenia, the author described Pokemon taxonomy as scientifically inaccurate,
because there were underlying methods that allowed interbreeding with other
species and the offspring comes out the same species as the female parents,
were divided into types, egg groups, body styles, moves and abilities. The
thought given shows that Pokemon has a logically correct method of taxonomy,
but not scientifically accurate.
Cellenia states that, “The biological species concept does not seem
to apply to the Pokemon. Monophyletic groups of Pokemon are more consistently
similar to the Pokemon Types than the breeding-related Egg Groups. This jarring
disconnect suggests that the transmission of character traits through
generations in Pokemon does not happen thorugh the Mendelian genetics we are
familiar with today. Though Pokemon presented a biologically incorrect way of
taxonomy for Pokemon, we see that it is logically correct and can be used in
order to understand a better way of real life taxonomy,” (http://neatorama.com/2012/11/27/A-Phylogeny-and-Evolutionary-History-Of
-the-Pokemon/#!Fhtfr)
C. Habitat
All animals need and area to inhibit.
The area must be ecologically rich and must sustain their needs in order for
them to survive. The ideology of habitat in Pokemon was presented thoroughly in
the games because you can only meet a certain type of Pokemon in a certain type
of area. Certain Pokemon and animals live in certain environments thrived to
survive and eventually adapter their way into living.
In an article entitled “The Biology of
Pokemon,” Craxell explains that Pokemon specifically adapted to the specific
environments they live in, eventually reflecting the animals and plants that
inhibit existing, parallel habitats. Craxell gave examples on how these Pokemon
lived in the same way, symbiotically and ecologically with the living animals
here on Earth.
Craxell stated that, “If we put it into words, for example,
Sandslash boast large claws used for digging in the arid, sandy environments
they can be captured in, similar to those of many rodents. Pokemon life cycles
also imitate those of real creatures, with the caterpillar-like Caterpie
pupated as Metapod before emerging as the butterfly-like Butterfree,” (http://www.unpopularscience.co.uk/the-biology-of-pokemon/).
Chapter 3
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY
This paper attempted to determine the
different ideologies that can be presented into school curriculum.
The research design used in this study
is the descriptive research method wherein factual data from different online
articles, journals, and blogs were used to provide accurate answers for the
research question presented. The research findings are the following:
1. Pokemon presents different
ideologies that can be used into school curriculum.
2. Children are bored or uninterested
because they do not think of studying as an important act.
3. Teachers and professors can use
these ideologies in order for them to achieve active students that are not
bored or uninterested.
4. Pokemon can give new ways on
teaching several subjects in order for children to be attentive.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of the study, the
following conclusions are drawn:
1. Pokemon can be a tool that if
utilized properly, will give new innovative presentations on capturing
children’s attention to spark interest and make them more attentive in class.
2. Pokemon can teach biological
evolution, because it has the same logical presentation as of the current
existing animals by giving ideas with metamorphosis and polyphenism.
3. Pokemon can teach taxonomy, because
it follows the same format of logical presentation as of the current living
animals by exhibiting the ideas of different groups and classifying them
accordingly.
4. Pokemon can teach habitats, because
it presents the same logical presentation as of the current living animals by
showing the ideals of animals surviving in their own areas, and eventually
adapting in order to continue living.
RECOMMENDATIONS
After drawing conclusions to the study,
the researcher hereby makes the following suggestions/recommendations:
1. Discovering new and innovative ways
is one of the most powerful tools in order to achieve better results and
capture interest in certain groups of people.
2. People should look at fictional
stories deeper, because they might give different ideas on how to give better
statements on how to portray a certain phenomenon. People must be observant and
be more aware so that they would help teach children via new ways that appeal
to the children.
3. Students must be able to find their
own ways of making uninteresting and boring acts to be interesting and fun. By
doing this, they may be able to increase productivity levels and achieve better
results.
4. Future researchers could further
elaborate more subjects and explain them in detail and find evidence that can
make teachers and professors relate their subjects with fictional characters.
Future researchers must also take the research from a different approach so
that the readers may be able to understand the study as well.
References:
A. Electronic media:
Barlett, T. (2011, February 20) The
Case for Play. Retrieved April 19, 2014 from https://chronicle.com/article/The-Case-for-Play/126382/
Brians, J. (2013, Feburary 4)
Pokebiology 101: “Evolution and the enigma of Eevee”. Retreived April 21, 2013
from http://frethoughtblogs.com/blaghag/2013/02/pokebiology-101-evolution-and-the-engma-of-eevee/
Cellenia, A. (2012, November 27) A
Phylogeny and Evolution of Pokemon. Retreived April 21, 2013 from http://www.neatorama.co,/2012/11/27/A-Phylogeny-and-Evolutionary-History-of-the-Pokemon/#!Fhtfr/
Craxell, J. (2012, December 4) The
Biology of Pokemon. Retrieved April 21, 2013 from http://www.unpopularscience.co.uk/the-biology-of-pokemon/
Esther, E. (2011, October 11) All Work
and No Play: Why Your Kids Are More Anxious, Depressed. Retrieved April 18,
2913 from http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/10/all-work-and-no-play-why-your-kids-are
-more-anxious-depressed/246422/
Pitrinch, P. R. (2010, September 10).
Problems at school. Retrieved April 16, 2014 from http://raising children.net.au/articles/school_problems_teenages.html
Schunk, H. (2010, July 20). Why are so
many students bored in school? Retrieved April 16, 2014 from http://www.education.com/reference/article/why-so-many-students-bored-school/
