“Early diagnosis is critical in helping people with autism get the support they need,” says Caroline Hattersley of The National Autistic Society in London. Thanks to Kinect, early diagnosis of autism will hopefully soon be easier than ever. According to New Scientist, classrooms like those at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development are implementing a system utilizing Microsoft’s motion sensors to track children for signs of behavioral disorders.
It’s no secret of the potential Microsoft’s Kinect can wield. That’s why 7 school districts around the United States are participating in a test program to use the device to aid with educating students in math, language arts, history, geography, science, and physical education, The Journal reports. Kinect will also be implemented to aid special needs students as well.
Partnering with Microsoft, public school districts in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, Scottsdale and Flagstaff, AZ, and Fairfax County and Loudoun County, VA, will be visiting a website designed by Microsoft outlining over 100 education-related activities. Here, these school districts can choose from activities related to their lesson plans that stem eight different Kinect titles. Among the education-based programming titles are Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, National Geographic Challenge!, Kinect Adventures, Kinect Sports, Kinectimals, Kinect Fun Labs, Body and Brain Connection and Yoostar 2.
From acting out emotions and giving oral reports with Yoostar 2 to finding geographical locations with Kinectimals, this pilot program for schools offers a wide-range of activities for various different age groups. As The Journal describes:
One of the math activities for students ages 11 to 13 uses the Darts game, which is part of Kinect Sports. Students work in pairs with a starting score of 501 and the goal of reaching 0 by subtracting points. As they play, students construct an equation that starts with the number 501 on one side. On the other side of the equation, students add the number of points they score on each turn. When they score double or triple points, they reflect the multiplication of their score in their equation. For example, to indicate a double score on 24 points, students would write 2(24). When the game is over, students confirm that both sides of their equation equal 501.
Given a blessing by educational experts and working in line with the Common Core State Standards, the Kinect learning program certainly has the opportunity and initiative to go far. With great accolades and positive feedback coming in, this program could see implementation across further districts in the United States.
Source: The Journal
You can keep up to date on all Xbox Kinect and Xbox Kinect Fans content by getting our updates via Twitter and Facebook. Just click on the relevant icon below.
