Michael Gove: Computer Games in UK Schools Coming from China and the States
Development in UK, not so much
The UK's education minister and "politician by accident" Michael Gove has given what looks like a thumbs-up to the use of computer games in schools for maths teaching. However, don't expect UK games developers to benefit.
Speaking at the Royal Society, Mr Gove stated:
"Computer games developed by Marcus Du Sautoy are enabling children to engage with complex mathematical problems that would hitherto have been thought too advanced. When children need to solve equations in order to get more ammo to shoot the aliens, it is amazing how quickly they can learn.
"I am sure that this field of educational games has huge potential for maths and science teaching and I know that Marcus himself has been thinking about how he might be able to create games to introduce advanced concepts, such as non-Euclidean geometry, to children at a much earlier stage than normal in schools."
Excellent news for a UK game development industry in need of a government boost. However, Mr Gove then explains:
"The Department for Education is working with the Li Ka Shing Foundation and the highly respected Stanford Research Institute on a pilot programme to use computer programmes to teach maths. We have not developed the programme - we are just helping them run a pilot. Stanford say it is one of the most successful educational projects they have seen."
So, that's a Chinese-based think-tank and a university in the USA? Even Marcus De Sautoy operates out of Oxford!
And over at Mangahigh where Marcus du Sautoy is a board member, are the games that Mr Gove is referring to.
Or read the speech here.
Speaking at the Royal Society, Mr Gove stated:
"Computer games developed by Marcus Du Sautoy are enabling children to engage with complex mathematical problems that would hitherto have been thought too advanced. When children need to solve equations in order to get more ammo to shoot the aliens, it is amazing how quickly they can learn.
"I am sure that this field of educational games has huge potential for maths and science teaching and I know that Marcus himself has been thinking about how he might be able to create games to introduce advanced concepts, such as non-Euclidean geometry, to children at a much earlier stage than normal in schools."
Excellent news for a UK game development industry in need of a government boost. However, Mr Gove then explains:
"The Department for Education is working with the Li Ka Shing Foundation and the highly respected Stanford Research Institute on a pilot programme to use computer programmes to teach maths. We have not developed the programme - we are just helping them run a pilot. Stanford say it is one of the most successful educational projects they have seen."
So, that's a Chinese-based think-tank and a university in the USA? Even Marcus De Sautoy operates out of Oxford!
And over at Mangahigh where Marcus du Sautoy is a board member, are the games that Mr Gove is referring to.
Or read the speech here.