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PlayStation quiz game could be used in the classroom
Mark Prigg, Science Correspondent11.01.08
Sony is to begin selling a computer game aimed at children as young as seven.
It hopes the PlayStation multiple choice quiz game will be used in classrooms to teach the National Curriculum.
The £35 game, called Buzz! Schools edition, was developed with the Department for Children, Schools and Families and uses keypads that enable pupils to choose their answers.
Play is controlled by a teacher who can select which subjects are included and at which level. There are more than 5,000 questions, all based on the National Curriculum. A virtual "quizmaster" guides players though the game.
But critics have attacked Buzz!, claiming teachers should concentrate on traditionalmethods of educating children.
"Video games have hurt far more people than they have helped," said Jack Thompson, a US lawyer and campaigner against video games. "I don't see how they can be of any more benefit than normal teaching."
Educational psychologist Jane Healy claimed computer games fuelled the development of children's "flight or fight" instincts rather than considered reasoning. "If you watch kids on a computer, most of them are just hitting keys or moving the mouse as fast as they can. It reminds me of rats running in a maze," she told a Las Vegas conference.
A Children's Department spokesman today defended the use of technology in classrooms, which in recent years have seen the introduction of electronic whiteboards, online exams and even laptops for pupils.
"Technology has the power to transform-teaching and learning - and engage unmotivated pupils and communicate c omplex ideas simply," he said.
"There are many ways in which teachers make learning engaging and entertaining - quizzes and games are a classic example. When combined with traditional teaching methods, they can be a fun way of making key facts and figures stick in the mind."
David Amor, creative director and co-founder of Relentless, which wrote Buzz!, said: "We're incredibly excited about this project.
"Using the buzzers and the quiz format means the game is instantly accessible and works on the basis that kids learn more when they're having fun. Learning games like this will, we hope, give teachers an extra tool in the classroom."
ConnectED, the company selling the game to schools, says it has received praise from teachers. "We have trialled the game across the country and the response has been very good," said spokesman Mark Stimpfig.
"Computer games are already a big part of children's social landscapes and all we have done is re-purpose this game for Key Stage 2 by changing the questions. We have taken out the questions about Madonna and David Beckham and put in questions about everything from punctuation to history."
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Another educational magic bullet for NuLab politicians to promote, rather than good order, good manners and a work ethic in the nation's classrooms - there are no short cuts to a good education! Quizzes, despite fascination for them in the UK, are an activity of quite low order intellectual skills, which is probably why they appeal to politicians.
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
This sounds like an entirely appropriate way for teachers to vary the way they deliver education and engage the children. My only concern would be the cost to the school of the associated hardware (PS3 circa £300 or PS2 circa £100, they don't specify) + tv + game, etc.
Regarding the research. Games come in all shapes and sizes with appeal for all ages just like movies and books. There is a sound body of evidence to suggest that games have beneficial properties for children including improved hand eye co-ordination and improved problem solving skills. The flitting about seen could be exactly that. As long as the content is age appropriate I'd rather kids could play games in moderation. There are plenty of things such as diet, exercise and a loving environment that will have a far greater influence on a child's development.
- Ian, London
When is Jack Thompson going to produce some hard evidence that computer games hurt? Every time there is a shooting in the US he starts shouting his diatribe about computer games caused this. It's not the computer games that cause the high school shootings it's giving guns to unstable individuals.
- John, London
