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Video Game Improves Math Skills Among Children

Posted on: Friday, 26 September 2008, 13:30 CDT

Children who play video games on a daily basis may be improving their concentration, behavior and math attainment, according to a Scottish study.

Researchers with Learning and Teaching Scotland studied students in 32 schools using the Brain Training from Dr Kawashima game on the Nintendo DS every day.

The LTS study served as a follow-up to a pilot study in Dundee last year to see if the results were replicated on a wider scale.

During the study, one group of students played the Brain Training game for 20 minutes at the beginning of class for nine weeks.

A control group continues their lessons in a more traditional manner .

Researchers found that while all groups had improved their scores, the group using the game had improved by an additional 50 percent.

Researchers also noted a drop in the time needed for students to complete the tests – from 18.5 minutes to 13.8 minutes. Improvements in students who played the game doubled that of the control group.

The study also found that it made no difference if the children had the game at home and noted no difference in ability between girls or boys.
Additionally, researchers noted improvements in absence and lateness in some classes.

"Computer games help flatten out the hierarchy that exists in schools - they are in the domain of the learner as opposed to the domain of the school,” said Derek Robertson, LTS’s national adviser for emerging technologies and learning.

"This intervention encouraged all children to engage and get success in a different contextual framework; one in which they don't know their place."

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On The Net:

Learning and Teaching Scotland

University of Dundee

Source: redOrbit Staff & Wre Reports

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