Nintendo DS for educational use

[laserblazer]

Does anyone use them in their school? I'd welcome the pros and cons. We would be aiming at Y5-Y7.

[PeggleStar]

What are you looking to use the Nintendo DS for? There are lots of games out there but I am assuming you mean 5 - 7 year olds so it's not likely to be the new Pokemon games that's out tomorrow

[laserblazer]

Maths and Literacy games and it would be 9-12 years. Something to keep the disruptive pupils amused and possibly tax the more able.

[AngryTechnician]

This may be of interest: Enhancing mental maths in the primary setting through games-based learning

[Sylv3r]

We bought them four or five years ago for our for our polish students to help with their english and maths skills.

 

I must admit, I don't think they have been used for a while as i've never seen them for a while. They did work well when we first bought them though.

[synaesthesia]

One of my primary bought 15 with copies of Brain Training and a few other bits and bobs, circa 4/5 years ago. Once the novelty wore off, which took about a month, they were stashed and never seen or used again. The only evidence is many copies of Brain Training sitting in the server room.

[PeggleStar]

Your have to excuse me if this sounds dumb but you say it's for 9 - 12 year olds in your school so is your school a joint primary and secondary school? :/

[Norphy]

I don't know where the OP is based but that sounds like the age range of a middle school in a three tier system. Bedfordshire still uses that.

[AngryTechnician]

Many independent Prep schools (like the one I work at) also go from normal primary age up to Y8.

[X-13]

We don't have DS's that I know of, but we do have a Wii that gets used a lot.

 

[Our lea techs used to have a 360 and a PS3 "to test educational games"]

[laserblazer]

I don't know where the OP is based but that sounds like the age range of a middle school in a three tier system. Bedfordshire still uses that.

 

Middle Deemed Primary - Years 5, 6, & 7

[PeggleStar]

Middle Deemed Primary - Years 5, 6, & 7

 

This is interesting as iv'e not come accross it before so is it actually a primary school then? I thought anything after Y6 was secondary, sorry to go off topic again

[laserblazer]

Yes, we are seen as a primary but get secondary funding for Y7 pupils. There are other Middle schools in the county that have Y6, Y7 & Y8 and they are deemed secondary and get more funding. All a bit messy but it does mean we get a nice age group. Old enough to tie their own shoelaces (most anyway) but not old enough to get too bolshy. When Y7 go on residential trips a lot of teddies go too.