Archive for January, 2009

Your kid now learns math with Nintendo DS

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Good News. Now Nintendo DS game will let free you of putting your kids through math paces by using a set of flashcards. With Nintendo DS, when your kid plays the game for only 10 minutes on regular basis, it works better than a set of flashcards for your child. Yes, it is the use of technology and the method makes your child more engaging.

Without this “Personal Trainer: Math” your kid had to attain mastery in all the addition, subtraction, multiplication, division of mathematics by memorizing the facts with repetition. Now it is consistent practice in order and sequence ways. The new method of technology also keeps track of accuracy and speed over a period of time.

After signing to this “Personal Trainer: Math” your kid gets a cartoon version of professor Hideo Kageyama. He is from the Center for Research and Educational Development in Higher Education at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. In this Personal Trainer he is the host and also a math coach. He pioneered the 100-Cell Calculation Method, which is used in this technology game. In this technology game he also encourages the kids to play it every day.
In the main menu your kids will get three options: Daily Test, Kageyama Method or Practice Exercises.

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Though sold 100 million consoles but Nintendo DS not good for brain as claimed, according to study

Monday, January 26th, 2009

Video games are slowly tapping whole new audience. Now it is packed with the tag ‘Edutainment.’ According to Nintendo the games such as Brain Training and Big Brain Academy helps in improving practical intelligence of an individual. One who plays the game regularly gets the habit of using brains two or three times better.

According to researchers at the University of Rennes, Brittany, playing games such as Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training on the Nintendo DS is very effective at improving mental sharpness. Alain Lieury, professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Rennes said that “The Nintendo DS is a technological jewel. As a game it’s fine, but it would be charlatanism to claim that is a scientific test.”

The claim of Nintendo was tested on 67 ten year old children split into 4 groups by research team. The first and second group undertook a 7 week memory course by using Nintendo DS. The 3rd group was able to complete the puzzle by using a pencil and paper only. Group 4 did not do any additional work outside their regular school curriculum.

After comparing the results of logic, memory and mathematical tests, the research team found that children who used Nintendo DS did not show any significant improvements in the memory tests.

Nintendo DS is a smash hit and has sold approximately 100 million consoles worldwide. Millions has been spent on advertising campaigns signing famous people like Nicole Kidman, Julie Walters and Ronan Keating.