Nintendo to target the Education Market with its new DS XL

The Nintendo DS / Gameboy is the biggest selling video game console in history and would be a common item in the school bags of many students.  The problem Nintendo has had is convincing teachers and parents the DS could actually be a learning tool and to give them a reason to get them out of their bags.

The Brain Training Academy series launched somewhat of phenomenon in the portable gaming marketplace and all of the sudden mum, dad and Grandma wanted a DS to sharpen their minds, Play Sudoku and various other puzzle games.  The DS instantly gained some credibility with the intellectual market as a result.

Well Nintendo have obviously taken note of this trend and set to capitalise on it further with the Nintendo DS XL.

The DS XL sports a screen double the size of it's predecessor, (Maybe to help Granny  see here Sudoko a little clearer?) it has built in Brain Training Games, Dictionary and a range of other DS Apps that are aimed at  non traditional gaming markets.  It sports a better camera, improved touch and stylus functionality and still offers all of the web browser and Wi-Fi connectivity of the DSi.

It will be available in March 2010 for what I can only assume will be slightly more expensive or the same as the DSi.  

In light of the recent disappointment of the iPad I am sure Nintendo is hopeful this DS maybe can break into the educational market with it's new features.  Watch this space and I look forward to hearing your feedback.

Brilliant Series of Math's Lessons for Nintendo Wii

A colleague of mine Tristan Mether who has just completed the DEECD Videogames in the classroom trial has put together a great website full of maths lessons that can be undertaken on a nintendo Wii.  They are thoroughly detailed and full of worthwhile activities.

The WiiMaths Project is aiming to investigate how the Nintendo Wii can used in conjunction with Mathematics Teachers and Curriculum Program. (M.T.C.P.) to create updated handson activities and reengage the students of 21 century in mathematics?

This project uses the MTCP (Mathematics Teachers and Curriculum Program) written by Charles Lovitt & Doug Clarke and updates the practical component (previously video tapes and other stimulus materials) using the Nintendo Wii and its games to now give students a hands on experience (of large events like ten pin bowling) within the classroom.

In this way they can link the maths topics and solve problems as the play along in the class. It also is links into educational research being done by Derek Robertson at the Consolarium in Scotland (Centre for Games and
Learning http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/ictineducation/gamesbasedlearning/ ) around Games-based learning.

Hope you enjoy it.  Let me know how you go with it and I owuld love to hear of any lessons you have put together invovling video games.

The Complete History of 'Super Mario Bros'

Everyone's favourite Italian Plumber has a proud history in the world of video games;  26 years worth of it in fact.  IGN has just released a comprehensive history of Mario and you can track his evolution and subsequent devolution if you take a look at his newest game which is great.  Anyhow I always have kids who try to put together presentations on video games and I would point them here for an example of how to do it right and in the mean time learn how Mario has changed the face of video games for over 2 decades.  Check it out here.

The Nintendo DS classroom

Let's face it every second kid in primary school already has one and are more than familiar with how to use it.  The DS is a pretty sleek and intuitive pieces of hardware with touch, voice recognition and all the other basic gaming functions.  The question is could teachers see any real benefit to having these in the classroom and what might we do with them?  This article has some interesting ideas coming out of Japan that may well be available to a wider audience in 2010.  Take a look for yourself.  Ipersonally don't know if it is a step in the right direction it seems to be the robot class dream of the 80's to me?