INTERVIEW: RAY MAGUIRE, SCEE Playing in the classroom
Sony wants the PlayStation to aid education – by getting Move and LittleBigPlanet used during lessons. Dominic Sacco talks to SCEE senior VP Ray Maguire about the platform holder’s ambitious plans
WITH THE fast-developing digital age comes ever-impressive new technology. This is used to power not only video games, but the way we access information every day. But forget watching videos on an
iPad or taking part in worldwide banter on Twitter – what about schools? Why can’t motion controllers be used to teach our children important lessons? Sony believes they should.
Pushing new game technology into the National Curriculum is something that the firm feels is imperative to the education system. “Games consoles don’t just play games, they are sophisticated media players,” Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s senior VP Ray Maguire tells MCV.
“There is no reason why you can’t play open standard educational content such as videos, audio and web-based lessons through a games console like the PlayStation. “There is also increasing empirical evidence that games-based technologies, if used with Curriculum-based content, raises student attainment, improves engagement and attendance.” There are already teachers and students across the UK using PSPs as learning tools, with several schools in Sheffield first to opt for a more digital education.
MOVING MINDS
Sony is focusing on pushing LittleBigPlanet 2and PlayStation Move into schools as the customisable game and motion- sensing controller offer pupils a creative method of learning. “The pinpoint accuracy of Move is great for hand-eye coordination skills,” adds Maguire. “It perfect for fitness and healthy eating regimes. “Where schools are short on space, it’s a great way to play table tennis and movement activities.” But how exactly can games help kids during actual lessons? Maguire says: “LittleBigPlanetis a game based around physics and
www.mcvuk.com
Sony’s Ray Maguire (main) wants more PS3s, PSPs and video games used in schools as learning tools (above)
within the game you can create your own level – millions do this already. “We are going to be creating teacher packs (see ‘Teaching the teachers’)where class teachers with a specialist subject knowledge in science, technology, engineering and maths – the stem subjects – create ‘levels’ with content aligned to their specific age range.” Relevant in-game content will be posted, hosted, shared and played via LittleBigPlanet. Students can work collaboratively in class with a teacher moderating, or they could work on levels as homework. Maguire says Move is also ideal for teaching mathematics, such as calculations around the distance objects are thrown and travel times. The game could also be used to teach languages, as LittleBigPlanet allows a variety of audio and text
“
files to be saved for assessments. Each language could have its own bespoke in-game level for students to navigate and learn from.
There is
evidence that games-based technologies raise student attainment, improve
engagement and attendance.
Ray Maguire, SCEE
PROGRESS THROUGH PSPS Regardless of whether or not teachers pick up Move, there are many schools already using a different Sony product in lessons right now – the PSP.
It is not just a handheld gaming device, it also acts as a media player – perfect for PowerPoint presentations or recording video footage for student projects. Sony has also developed an education-based augmented reality programme for the PSP called Second Sight. Students and teachers can ‘tag’ media onto a PC before loading it onto the PSP’s memory stick.
March 11th 2011 39
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