Professor slams games consoles as learning tool

Published on Friday 20 November 2009 21:46

CLAIMS that computer games consoles can improve pupils' maths ability have been dismissed by an Edinburgh University neuroscientist.

The use of the Nintendo hand-held devices, pioneered as innovative learning tools by the government body Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS), has been taken up the majority of schools in Scotland and spread to many countries worldwide.

However Sergio Della Sala, professor of human cognitive neuroscience, said traditional textbooks were just as effective.

In a speech to headteachers at their annual conference, Prof Della Sala said teachers should resist "these flim-flam initiatives" and raised doubts about the consoles' effectiveness.

"This research shows that when pupils in a school use a games console, after ten weeks they become a bit better in performing maths but the same applies to those who did not use the console," Prof Della Sala said.

"It may be fun, but it is not a learning device.

"The message for parents is always look at the available data. Who says this improves the performance of their kids? Show me the evidence. This study shows there is no advantage – why should we spend money on finding out more rather than spending money on good teaching and good learning?"

But last night Derek Robertson, national adviser for emerging technologies and learning at LTS, who thought up the idea of using brain training in the classroom after buying himself a console, accused Prof Della Sala of being "disingenuous".

"I'm really disappointed by Professor Della Sala's comments. To dismiss our work as 'flim flam' is both disappointing and disingenuous. It is also damaging to the hard work we've done."