Musical game craze could sweep schools
Guitar Hero being used experimentally in classrooms
Published:
A computer game craze which has gripped the world – with ringing endorsements from some of the biggest names in music – could soon be rocking out classrooms throughout the north-east.
Guitar Hero, which gives players the chance to act like their idols, is being used in lessons as part of an experiment by Aberdeenshire Council education chiefs.
They are introducing video games in primaries as a way of encouraging pupils to become more creative and improve their learning.
In the last year, the local authority has bought more than 300 Nintendo consoles at about £100 each. The cost of the sought-after machines, including Wiis and hand-held DS devices, has been split between the council and the Learning Teaching Scotland organisation.
Individual schools in Aberdeenshire have also bought their own consoles, including Playstations.
Although gaming machines have been tried in some schools throughout Scotland, Aberdeenshire is leading the way by adopting the new technology and exploring different ways it can be used to teach.
Guitar Hero, with its plastic guitar peripherals, has proved a big hit with both pupils and staff at Elrick Primary in Westhill, where it was first piloted.
Head teacher Louise Malcolm said: “The actual gameplay is just a small part of this. The pupils get to play for a short while in the morning, but then we take a lot of ideas for the game and develop them.
“For example, with Guitar Hero pupils can write about the bands and the characters they have created. If they’re on a world tour, we can learn about the different countries they visit.
“There are lots of ways we can expand on this.”
The game gives children a platform to write imaginative stories. And pupils have also been enthusing about the project on their own online blogs.
Mrs Malcolm said the game was used by pupils in their final primary year.
“It really gives children a confidence boost and makes them keen to learn more,” she said. “I think everyone has really embraced this, boys and girls. It was obviously a new experience for some of the staff and we have held training events for them.
“But I believe this sort of learning is here to stay.”
The pilot scheme in Aberdeenshire, which also looked at other games, including role-playing adventure Myst and Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training, has also impressed officials at Learning and Teaching Scotland.
A spokeswoman said: “The children could not believe that a game such as Guitar Hero could be used in school, but were tremendously excited and switched on by it being there.
Following its success in Aberdeenshire, the exercise could be rolled out to the rest of the country.
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