Computer games aid learning Study | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua students who took part in an academic study using computer games found their engagement in learning improved.

Last year, about 58 students from Rotorua Intermediate School aged between 10 and 13 used Microsoft game development software Kodu for a term as part of their normal class routine.

Teachers monitored students' responses, feeding their results to researchers at Rotorua's Waiariki Institute of Technology and Auckland University of Technology.

Students were paired up and had to make a game using the software.

The study was led by Waiariki senior lecturer in game design Allan Fowler.

He wanted to look at the value of using computer games and whether they could enhance the educational process.

Mr Fowler said the study found using the programme enhanced the students' learning experience.

He said the programme also improved students' problem solving skills and taught them programming skills.

Mr Fowler was pleased with how the students and teachers at Rotorua Intermediate responded to the study.

"They were fantastic. I was really impressed with the result."

The research is part of an international project, the results of which would be published later this year. Student AJ Hansen, 12, said using the programme was fun and he would like to be a computer game designer in the future.

"I'd like to design something and see other people playing it and enjoying playing it. It would be pretty fun."

The school's lead Information Communications Technology teacher Sylvie Vasar said the trial went well.