Learning! DS! Fun?

I never thought I’d live to see the day that learning would be fun, in any shape or form. But apparently it is for Japanese students using a Nintendo DS to learn English. Once banned from schools, DS’s are now acknowledged as a bona fide educational tool. Now, students actually pay attention and enjoy learning. Zomigod!

With a wide variety of applications for the DS besides gaming, it comes as no surprise that it is used for education. Just look at Brain Age and Big Brain Academy—games that are designed to stimulate the brain using simple vocabulary and mathematical exercises. Much like Brain Age, this English-teaching game contains vocabulary exercises that must be recited aloud and scribbled in with the stylus.

It’s a no-brainer to say that the DS is interactive and fun. And not only that, but with over 20 million units sold in Japan alone, I wouldn’t be surprised if every student owns a DS. It is easier for students to learn on a platform with which they are familiar. Turning learning into a game is one way to get students interested in, let alone, care about educational material. If you turn anything into a game, I can’t see why it wouldn’t be fun. Props, Japan, props. I just wish they did this while I was a student.

It started off as a trial, limited to a few schools, and as of May 21, 2007, was implemented in all secondary schools in a section of Kyoto after a trial showed an increase in students’ test scores. Perhaps the increase in test scores is the result of kids having fun. They’re actually engaged in their studies rather than dozing off while the teacher rambles on. You all know what I’m talking about.

Regardless, it saves paper, it’s easy to use, it’s fun, kids learn, and students’ test scores improve. What more could you ask for? The good news is that it’s not just Japanese schools that are acknowledging the DS as an educational tool; other schools in Scotland are assigning Brain Age 2: More Brain Training as homework to be done/played before school starts. Who knows, maybe students will get sick of video games now. Hah! Not.