News Archive

Primary schools game-based learning

22 March 2011

Last week, the Zieland Group of Companies launched a new game-based computer resource to be piloted at three Taranaki primary schools.

The project is the brainchild of Zieland Group Chairman Tony Zieltjies, who is gifting computer resources and, with Lamberts Business Systems, is sponsoring web connectivity to the schools so the software can be trialled.

e-BLS Ltd was commissioned to develop the resource for the Zieland Group. The online games, featuring skating, surfing and touch rugby, teach numeracy and literacy. e-BLS conducted research, created the concept, and designed and built the games. They also developed a special website to host the resource.

The online resource is designed to help students in year 5 and year 6 who struggle in the main stream education system. It works in conjunction with the standard New Zealand primary school curriculum.

The three primary schools, Ramanui, Spotswood, and Inglewood, each received 10 netbooks, mouse controllers and earphones to be used by the students in the pilot scheme. The online resource tracks students' progress and the data will be collated to study the effectiveness of the resource.

The contents of the netbook package that was delivered to the primary schools.