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DS Makes Its Way Into The Classroom

As a teacher, I’ve had to confiscate several Nintendo DS’s from students who try to play them during class. At Tokyo’s Joshi Gakuen Middle School, they actually encourage it.  Over the last year the all-girls school has been testing a new English teaching software that uses various interactive games, drills, and videos played, on the DS, to help improve students conversational skills; something they can’t get from an ordinary textbook.  So far so good, the students are having fun and the making great strides in learning the new language.  Some teachers are still worried about the games being a distraction, but overall the feedback has been positive. 

On a similar note, Nokia handhelds loaded with special programs to help teach math are being tested in several high schools in South Africa as well.  If you ask me, this sounds like a great way to incorporate learning core subjects and new technology at the same time and I hope to see more of it.  So to any of my students out there…sorry.  As soon as they come out with some History software, I’ll give you your DS’s back!

-JH

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