Q and A about the use of Nintendo Games in School

[RachelMumsnet]

Primary school teacher Dawn Hallybone recently appeared as herself in one of Nintendo's Real People TV adverts, where she was filmed using the handheld DS console in her job. The adverts sparked some debate in the media and online (including mumsnet) about the authenticity of her story.

Dawn has been using DS consoles in her classroom for over three years. She is a firm believer that games consoles can be powerful tools for learning in classrooms and is a big fan of the maths-based games like Brain Training. Dawn is also part of her school borough's games network and has access to a selection of Wii games as well, which are also used in her school.

Following a number of posts on this thread on Mumsnet before Christmas, we've been asked by Nintendo if you'd like to ask Dawn questions about their games-based learning approach directly. Please send in your questions by end of day on Monday 24th January and we'll link to the answers from this thread by the end of the week.

I think computer aided training programmes do work, and the DS is just another means of getting information across to children.

Children are growing up in a computerised world, if it doesnt work on a handheld unit or computer, then they dont want to know.

We have been using a computerised tutorial programme for maths, and it has been fantastic for reteaching all the basics and going through maths, step by step, stage by stage.

I dont know much about Nintendo DS, I know there are maths programmes available, but if they stimulate a child who would otherwise not be interested them I am all for it.

However, too many children who are under achieving at school do spend too much time on computer games, but not the sort that will help them educationally or stimulate their brains. parents would need to redirect those children, but I doubt they would. I saw Grand Theft Auto mentioned above, and sadly, too many primary children do spend too much time playing violent games more suitable for 18+.

Our school doesnt use computers at all.

Seriously, no computers at all?

How do they fulfill the ICT portion of the national curriculum?

As the mother of a child with SN (ASD/ADHD/Dyspraxia) I welcome the use of gaming used responsibly within the classroom. My son who is highly motivated by computer and gaming activities LOVES and actively engages with gaming. It doesn't take much stretch of the imagination to get him using the quick fire maths/reading programmes/co-ordination and balance based activities (Wii).

I don't see them as educational per se but if they help engage reluctant readers like my son then I am all for it. There's more than one way to lead a horse to water and more than one way to get him to drink!

My son has definitely benefitted from the use of gaming technology just as my aged grandmother is benefitting from the Wii exercise programes within a nursing home.

I say let's embrace this technology and ask the manufacturers to produce software to support our children.

Brain Training is anything but, however, nowt wrong with a bit of fast mental maths in a way that children will engage with.

Sooo... Dawn, how do you decide what games are appropriate and which are not educationally?

Thanks so much for all your questions and feedback on this subject which we've forwarded on to both Dawn and to Nintendo. As soon as the answers are back (hopefully by the end of the week) we'll create an archived Q and A and link to it from this page.

Sorry for the delay - Dawn's just sent the answers back to all your questions and we'll be linking through to the Q and A from this page later in the week.

In response to wilfshelf's comment:

"I have no problem with any computer games used in for limited period, for educational purposes and designed for specific educational lessons. But what I object to the most is that is advertising by stealth. If Nintendo REALLY wanted to do something upstanding, rather than just increase their market share by infiltrating children's every spare centimetre, then they would find a way of de-branding them and putting them out as distinct educational consoles. Did you know they 'employ' children to 'sell' them to other children in informal settings? It's horrific. And I'm afraid I object to this move on those grounds".

Robert Saunders, Head of Communication at Nintendo UK has responded:

"Nintendo takes its responsibilities towards children and parents very seriously. We worked with buzz marketing company 'Dubit' on a project involving a small number of young people between 2006 and 2007, with
total assurance from Dubit of parental consent. Participants were given games consoles and games in return for their feedback and views on the products. This was the last time we have worked with Dubit and with young people in this way and we have no plans to do so again in the
future ."

Hi everyone, Dawn's answers to the Q & A are up now here. Thanks so much for your questions.