Derek Robertson, National Adviser for Emerging Technologies and Learning, LTSMany of the games that are currently being used in Scottish schools are those that have been designed for entertainment purposes and not for education.

This may seem an odd approach to some but when you take a closer look at the complexity of many of today’s computer games and then observe how young people thrive on the challenge, demand and appeal that these games offer you may begin to see why schools are keen to exploit the contexts for rich learning that can arise from console game play.

Children receiving some of this years top titles could be unwrapping some hidden benefits:

Get lost in a compelling story and test your problem solving skills
Accompany Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke on yet another mystery that requires unravelling. Professor Layton and the Lost Future is a narrative driven point and click adventure for the Nintendo DS game that may give parents an indication of how the concept of what constitutes a text in is being expanded in schools. When might you see children talking so animatedly about a story? There are also 165 puzzles in this game to get the brain ticking over.

 Get active with Xbox or the PS3
A major aspect of game play in schools is a focus on active involvement, collaboration and team play.  This experience is undoubtedly enhanced by the release of the Kinect and Move systems for the system for the Xbox and the PS3. Work in teams to make your way through Kinect Adventures or play against each other to see who might be the ‘greatest dancer’ in Dance Central and for the younger ones make friends with a beautiful lion or a tiger in Kinectimals. All controlled by your own body movements with no controller. You may also use the new PS3 Move controller to help you create the most wonderful environments and worlds in Create or Funky Lab Rat.

Whatever games do end up being played at home this Christmas take some time to look at how young people accept the challenge that games offer and how they make successful progress within them, more often than not, without adult intervention.