Blog feedDerek Robertson
20th September
One of the biggest highlights of today was, for me, Derek Robertson of LTS. He is from the Scottish Centre for Games and Learning, and gave an overview of recent research into a number of projects involving ‘gaming’. These can be viewed on the new Consolarium website. I was particularly interested to hear of the use of Dr Kawashima as an aid to children’s problem-solving skills and mental maths. Great potential here for I think for some of the research Steve Heppell spoke about in his speech.
Categories: Gaming, ScotLearnFest07, Technology
Comments
Comment from Neil
Time: October 30, 2007, 12:39 pm
As a parent the use of Dr Kawashima’s More Brain Training on a Nintendo DS I feel will lessen a childs interaction with other child and teachers and put a strain on a child eyes at a very young age. I myself restrict my own child to about 1 hours a week.
All you are doing is promoting the product to the child who will then ask their parents to buy one for home.
Comment from Mr W
Time: October 30, 2007, 4:32 pm
Please note: Neil is not me!
Comment from Derek Robertson
Time: October 31, 2007, 9:23 am
Noted Mr W!
Neil,
I appreciate your concerns and your experience with your own child but I must say that our study found exactly the opposite of what you suggest is happening. Yes we did find that there was enhanced performance in mental maths but what was just as striking was the social impact the game had. Not only did the focus of the game first thing in the morning appear to have a calming effect on the children but the collegiality and support that seemed to grow organically from within the class was something that the school were delighted to see. The children were exchanging ideas and strategies about how to be successful within the game, they were celebrating each other’s success and they were telling teachers throughout the school about how good they were at their sums. Not only that bit the Management team within the school believe that the experience brought the children together as a group and that they are now the most cohesive and ‘together’ class that they have had in the upper school for a good many years.
All of this is detailed in the Kawashima Case Study that can be accessed via the link to the Consolarium’s website:
www.ltscotland.org.uk/consolarium
As for the strain on the children’s eyes concern-they were only allowed to play this game for 15-20 mins a day.
I don’t know what to say about the last comment but all I can say is that we are looking at how schools can access such resources at a realistic cost. What happens out with school is really out of our control but if we can show ways and approaches that will have a positive impact on the cognitive and affective development of Scottish children then we will actively promote it. In this case we feel that this is most definitely the case.
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