A Journey into Learning

Project Natal is a device announced today for the Xbox360. It’s a motion sensing device that allows you to control video games and Xbox 360 menus with your body instead of a peripheral controller. Natal gives you voice and full-body motion control over your on-screen avatar using an RGB camera, depth sensor and multi-array microphone.

I’ve written before about our use of the Wii Fit in our curriculum. It has been a fantastically motivating tool to help children develop their balance and coordination. Project Natal looks really exciting. This kind of technology be incredibly useful in the classroom.

Take a look at the preview video.

Stephen Fry shares my appreciation of Nintendo’s game machine – in particular Wii Fit. There has been a lot of interest from teachers across the school in learning to use the Wii console with lots of ideas for its use in the classroom.

The PE Coorninator is looking at providing a console in each classroom as part of an initiative to increase the amount of physical activity the kids are engaged in.

Inspired by the Wii on show at the TTP dinner - I purchased a Wii Fit bundle for the school.

Connected to an interactive whiteboard with proper 2.1 stereo speakers it really is quite awsome. Some of my non-verbal learners really enjoyed the games – and it shows a lot of promise in developing the kids balance and motor coordination skills. It’s also a lot of fun – and we all need a bit of motivation at the end of term!