[vet-mm] RE: vet-mm Digest, Vol 52, Issue 9

Wed Jun 17 13:12:43 EST 2009

Hi Naim,

It's an interesting question you pose and one that has been debated for quite some time. Last year at the VITTA Annual Conference, keynote Derek Robertson from Learning and Teaching Scotland answered many of the questions that you raised. He has been conducting trials in Scottish schools on games for learning using several different consoles. The program, funded by the government, produced positive results for games in the classroom and their ability to engage students and improve their results. 

VITTA has included a transcript of Derek's keynote presentation in the latest issue of Infonet (I notice that St John's Regional College is a member school so your school would have recently received the journal). I recommend that you take a look. You can also find out information at Derek's blog as he updates us all on what's going on with the trials. http://hotmilkydrink.typepad.com/ It's not just Scottish schools who are getting on board with games in learning either, there are programs in the US which can be found online and the DEECD in Victoria are also considering the technology. 

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact VITTA on the details below. Alternatively, it might be a good idea for you to come along to one of the Wii Idol or So you think you can rock...? Information sessions being held in all Victorian education regions in the next fortnight. Both competitions are focussed on teacher-student collaboration, working as a team, performance skills and engaging students. 

Kind regards,
Lisa
_______
Lisa Chadderton
Senior Project Officer
VITTA
P: +61 3 9495 6836
F: +61 3 9495 6834
M: 0402522596
E: lisa at vitta.org.au
W: www.vitta.org.au
Suite 209, 134-136 Cambridge St
PO Box 1099
Collingwood VIC 3066

----- Original Message -----
From: "Naim Abdelahad" <nabdelahad at sjrc.melb.catholic.edu.au>
To: vet-mm at edulists.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:46:35 PM (GMT+1000) Auto-Detected
Subject: [vet-mm] RE: vet-mm Digest, Vol 52, Issue 9

The intentions of using Wii in the class room to promote Learning and in nursing homes to promote Health are very encouraging and noble in essence.
However, being a sceptic and a cynic I question the real value of the Wii for loosing weight, improving coordination, and bettering your memory. 
What studies were conducted to prove this?
Who conducted the studies?
Who paid for the studies?
What were the conclusions?
What methodology was used?
Or are we merely jumping on the bandwagon of Nintendo advertising, with the end result of higher sales and better share values? 

Regards

Naim Abdelahad

St John's Regional College 
5-11 Caroline Street 
Dandenong 3175 
Phone: 03. 9791 3366 
Fax: 03. 9794 5481 
Email: nabdelahad at sjrc.melb.catholic.edu.au <mailto:nabdelahad at sjrc.melb.catholic.edu.au>  

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________________________________

From: vet-mm-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of vet-mm-request at edulists.com.au
Sent: Wed 17/06/2009 12:12
To: vet-mm at edulists.com.au
Subject: vet-mm Digest, Vol 52, Issue 9

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Today's Topics:

   1. Competition details - Wii Idol & So you think you can rock?
      (Mia Solomon)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:08:50 +1000 (EST)
From: Mia Solomon <mia at vitta.org.au>
Subject: [vet-mm] Competition details - Wii Idol & So you think you
        can rock?
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Message-ID:
        <30348092.93551245204530027.JavaMail.root at office.vitta.org.au>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

Hi everyone,

Apologies for the cross posts.

Since my emails yesterday we have had a couple of queries regarding Wii Idol and So you think you can rock? And what the competitions entail, so here is the information again.

Wii Idol and So you think you can rock? Are competitions designed to encourage teachers to use games in the classroom and to motivate student learning by using the popular game Wii Music and Guitar Hero: World Tour .

Studies have shown that using games such as Guitar Hero and Wii Music substantially improved attention, collaboration and results in the classroom . Games can make learning a dynamic, rewarding and relevant experience that resonates so much with students they want to be a part of it.

VITTA is leading the way in creating positive perceptions of games in the classroom; we have created a new initiative which will bring games to Victorian schools in a fun and educational competition.

Free Training Sessions!

VITTA will be running free training sessions in the coming weeks for all those interested in competing in the competition, or simply want to learn more about the use of this technology in the classroom.

1) Wii Idol âEUR" Primary School Competition

Register for your regional training session by emailing VITTA at music at vitta.org.au and letting us know your name, your school and the information session youâEUR(tm)re registering for.

Date   

Region 

Venue  

Address        

Time

22 June        

Grampians      

St. Brigids CSC        

Robinson st, Horsham   

1pm - 3pm

23 June        

Loddon Mallee  

Quality Hotel Mildura Grand    

Seventh Street , Mildura VIC 3500      

12:30pm âEUR" 2:30pm

24 June        

Western Metropolitan   

Williamstown PS        

Cecil St , Williamstown        

1pm - 3pm

25 June        

Gippsland      

Bairnsdale Secondary College   

Wallace Street , Bairnsdale    

1pm - 3pm

26 June        

Hume   

Yea High School        

Racecourse Road, Yea   

1pm - 3pm

29 June        

Barwon South West      

Mercure Hotel Geelong  

Cnr Gheringhap & Myers Street  

1pm - 3pm

30 June        

Eastern Metropolitan   

Ashwood College        

Vannam Drive , Ashwood 

1pm - 3pm

01 July        

Northern Metropolitan  

Thornbury High School  

238 Collins Street , Thornbury 

1pm - 3pm

02 July        

Southern Metropolitan  

Mornington Secondary College   

1050 Nampean Highway , Mornigton       

1pm - 3pm

Prizes

Each member of the winning Wii Idol band will receive their own personal Nintendo DSi. The winning school will also receive a four pack of Nintendo DSiâEUR(tm)s as a classroom kit! Prizes will be available for runners up and heat winners. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Want to know more?

Visit the Wii Idol website for information about the competition, important dates, Wii Music tutorials, educational hints and tips and to register your band for your local heats. Go to www.wiiidol.vitta.org.au

2) So you think you can rock? âEUR" Secondary School Competition

Register for your regional training session by emailing VITTA at rock at vitta.org.au and letting us know your name, your school and the information session youâEUR(tm)re registering for.

Date   

Region 

Venue  

Address        

Time

22 June        

Grampians      

St. Brigids CSC        

Robinson st, Horsham   

10am âEUR"12pm

23 June        

Loddon Mallee  

Quality Hotel Mildura Grand    

Seventh Street , Mildura VIC 3500      

10am âEUR"12pm

24 June        

Western Metropolitan   

Williamstown PS        

Cecil St , Williamstown        

10am âEUR"12pm

25 June        

Gippsland      

Bairnsdale Secondary College   

Wallace Street , Bairnsdale    

10am âEUR"12pm

26 June        

Hume   

Yea High School        

Racecourse Road, Yea   

10am âEUR"12pm

29 June        

Barwon South West      

Mercure Hotel Geelong  

Cnr Gheringhap & Myers Street  

10am âEUR"12pm

30 June        

Eastern Metropolitan   

Ashwood College        

Vannam Drive , Ashwood 

10am âEUR"12pm

01 July        

Northern Metropolitan  

Thornbury High School  

238 Collins Street , Thornbury 

10am âEUR"12pm

02 July        

Southern Metropolitan  

Mornington Secondary College   

1050 Nampean Highway , Mornigton       

10am âEUR"12pm

Prizes

Each member of the winning band will receive a Guitar Hero guitar and game for the console of their choice (including PC and Mac). Prizes will be available for runners up and heat winners. All participants will receive a certificate of participation.

Want to know more?

The So you think you can rockâEUR¦? website is still under construction but will be available soon. Let us know if you would like to be notified of all new announcements by expressing interest at rock at vitta.org.au or by calling 9495 6836

We hope to see you there!

Kind regards,

VITTA Project Office

Mia Solomon
VITTA Project Office
T: +61 3 9495 6836
F: +61 3 9495 6834
E: mia at vitta.org.au
W: www.vitta.org.au
Suite 209, 134- 136 Cambridge St,
Collingwood, VIC, 3066, Australia

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