Developing strategic and reasoning abilities with computer games at primary school level

The paper reports a small-scale, long-term pilot project designed to foster strategic and reasoning abilities in young primary school pupils by engaging them in a number of computer games, mainly those usually called mind games (brainteasers, puzzlers, etc.). In this paper, the objectives, work methodology, experimental setting, and tools used in the project are outlined, together with an analysis of some findings. In particular, we perform a brief analysis of some of the cognitive processes involved in playing with the computer games considered; we then discuss software features that, in our experience, help children tackle different cognitive tasks. The quantitative data collected during the pilot allow us, also, to take account of children’s performance according to a number of different parameters, such as their level of achievement, the game’s degree of difficulty and the type of data handled. Moreover, we reflect on the general impact of the project on children’s reaso...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2007
• Where: CE
• Authors: Rosa Maria Bottino, Lucia Ferlino, Michela Ott, Mauro Tavella
• Keywords: CE 2007, Long-term Pilot Project, Reasoning Abilities, Young Primary School