The use of Games Based Technologies in Support for Learning @ MGS

This year at Musselburgh Grammar School I’m trialling some Games Based Learning Resources with the schools Support for Learning (SfL) Department. There are a few reasons for this and one of them is that most SfL classes a bit smaller than normal class sizes. This means that you buy a class set of resources relatively cheaply. Another reason is that our SfL teaches a lot of Access courses. I think the flexibility provided by Access courses lends itself more easily to more cross-curricular and creative work, compared to other certificate courses in the upper school.

Initially the project will centre around three types of hardware and various software titles will be trialled during the year.  The hardware will include Sony PS2, Nintendo DS and Nintendo Will.

The project will last most of the session and I hope to report back on it during the 2009 Scottish Learning Festival, I will also publish results of the trials here.

Details of the resources and software that we will be loaning to the department for this project are:

Part One: Nintendo DS

A set of six Nintendo DS’s will be supplied to the SfL department. A range of software will be supplied with the hardware in order to support the project at various phases.

The software will include:

• Six copies of Dr Kawashima's Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?
• Six copies of Big Brain Academy
• Six Copies of Maths Training
• Six Copies of My Word Coach

Part Two: Sony PS2

One Sony PS2 will be supplied to the department along with two Guitar Controllers. The following software titles will be provided in order to support the project at various stages:

The software will include:

• One copy of Guitar Hero Three: Legends of Rock*.
• One copy of Buzz the Schools Quiz.

NOTE: Guitar Hero may be used to support a creative writing or cross curricular type project. Similar to some of the transition work that we carried out before the summer holidays with our primary Seven pupils from the Cluster.

Project Three: Nintendo Wii

One Nintendo Wii with Two Controllers and two nunchucks will be put into the department. The following software titles will be provided in order to support the project at various stages:

The software will include:

• Wii Sports
• Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree
• My Word Coach      (Wii edition)
• My French Coach (Wii edition)
• Endless Ocean