It is the technological phenomenon of the year and the great summer fever since it was launched just over a week ago. But beyond entertainment, what can Pokémon Go bring to teaching in and out of the classroom?
With more than 30 million downloads in just seven days, Niantic’s new video game is captivating the interest of smartphone users of all ages, around the world, with a mix of augmented reality and geolocation that invites players To explore the city on the hunt for these popular “creatures”.
What initially seemed a passing enthusiasm equal to the many other apps that became fashionable and then ending up falling into oblivion, seems, however, to have come to stay, since, in addition to popularity, has won the favor of several teachers who have echoed the game praising their pedagogical possibilities.
Multidisciplinary skills
“First ideas for the integration of PokémonGO in the classroom: coordinated maps, GPS, PokéStops web searches, global exchange,” tweeted Kathy Schrock, a teacher keen on new technologies applied to education, before penning an article on the issue in Discovery Education.
What initially seemed a passing enthusiasm equal to the many other apps that became fashionable and then ending up falling into oblivion, seems, however, to have come to stay
And it is not unique: many other teachers have followed suit and contributed with different suggestions to transform the game into a new learning tool, within the concept of gamification recently popularized worldwide through Minecraft.
Among the disciplines that can best use this technology are:
- Geography and Geolocation: based on the use of GPS, the game allows users to learn concepts such as cardinal points, distance, direction, coordinates, planes or satellites.
- Mathematics and data processing: Collecting information on places visited, percentage success in capturing Pokémon and other statistics, the game promotes competing skills, presentation and data analysis.
- Economy: allowing to count or to compare pokémons and to make transactions with the virtual currency pokécoins, the users can handle concepts like offer and demand, valuation, negotiation, etc. Although it is possible to play with real money, parents have the possibility to restrict this option. In addition, it is possible to obtain coins for free.
- History: The pokéstops or gyms can be located in historical places or of cultural relevance like churches, museums, castles, etc. By promoting the physical exploration of their environments, the game can also take users to unfamiliar corners of their neighborhoods and to the discovery of popular heritage. In addition, this exploration strand may, according to autism education expert Craig Smith, promote an additional degree of involvement in the environment by children with autism.
- Physical activity: obesity, and especially childhood, has gained epidemic proportions in recent decades according to the OECD. By promoting walking and physical exercise, play, advocated by teachers, can bring significant benefits to the health of players.
Safety Warnings
But not everything is good news for the creators of the video game, since the usual misgivings about security and data collection soon became manifest. The American Common Sense Media, a non-profit group that, in its words, “works to promote a responsible use of the media and technology by the youngest,” has issued a letter sent to the company responsible for the game In which it expresses concern by an app that considers “plagued of security risks”.
“Do not treat children as a business asset,” warns the group. “Given the popularity of the game and its appeal to children, there is an unprecedented opportunity to accumulate ample blocks of millions of children’s personal data … We strongly oppose the idea that sensitive information for children should be used for business purposes . Significant attention must be paid to protect this information from improper use or access.”
For now, however, the safety risks do not seem to affect users too much, nor the revenue for publishers Niantic and Nintendo – which had licenses the brand and posted 50% gains in stock market value since the game was launched. Time will tell if the education sector will continue to value this new technology as a solid tool in the classroom of the future.
Photo: Eduardo Woo (CC)
