Since it was released, there's been much discussion about the potential educational purposes of Nintendo Labo. In June, Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aimé explained how Nintendo intended to run entry-level coding programs over the summer for kids and would move into the educational market in fall.
The next step for Nintendo Labo has now arrived, with Nintendo teaming up with the Institute of Play to bring the cardboard kits to elementary classrooms across the US. The rollout of kits across schools nationwide is to promote the basic principles of science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (abbreviated as STEAM), and inspire children whilst making learning fun.
Nintendo will provide both Labo Variety Kits and Switch systems in all participating classrooms, in hope of reinforcing skills such as communication, creativity and critical thinking. The aim is to reach 2,000 students between the ages of 8 to 11 across the 2018-2019 school year.
The Institute of Play is responsible for building the curriculum for the program and already works alongside teachers and schools as a trusted partner when it comes to developer play-based learning experiences for youth. The nonprofit research and design organisation is comprised of a team of educators, researchers, game designers and school leaders. Here's what the Co-Executive Director of the Institute of Play had to say:
We are always on the lookout for new tools and technologies that combine the best of learning with the spirit of play, and in NintendoLabo we found an inspiring and innovative approach in both areas. Teachers in the pilot program are already seeing the natural fit for Nintendo Labo in the classroom, and now we can bring that dynamic to schools across the country.
At this point in time, The Institute of Play is conducting pilot programs with schools in the greater New York area. These programs will be used to develop a Nintendo Labo teacher guide and allow other educators to then implement Labo into the classroom. This program will include sample lessons and learning modules focused on the basic elements of STEAM. The guide will also be released for free later this fall.
Upon completion of the pilot, the program will expand to 100 schools across the US and run until March 2019. In Canada, Nintendo will be partnering with Actua - the leading education-outreach organisation for STEM topics within the country - to inspire youth to innovate through digital literacy programs.
Here's what Reggie had to say about the partnership and rollout in schools:
The ingenuity of Nintendo Switch brings Nintendo Labo to life to provide a fun way for kids to explore basic STEAM topics together and be entertained while building a fundamental understanding of the technology behind them. We hope our programs in the United States and Canada encourage kids to explore, tinker, problem-solve and, in the process, get excited about design and technology – all while having fun.
Do you think Nintendo Labo has a bright future as an educational tool? Tell us in the comments.
Comments 40
Has anyone here got it? Is it good?
Meanwhile other schools in the US can't even afford up to date textbooks and the students are sitting in the same chairs that the school bought in the 1970s.
This sort of thing is nice for rich towns, but low income school districts will never see it. And further, I feel like there have to be better ways to teach coding at an entry level - ways that don't involved buying dozens of game consoles for the school.
Codename: STEAM.
On a serious note, this is pretty cool. I won't say no to expanding a kid's horizons! Hopefully this hits communities that truly need the educational stimulation.
I had two kids, and I have lived in many states and a few countries over my life, even kids of today make me wonder....
does an audience between 8-11 have the ability for this type of endeavor ???
@Kalmaro You mean Labo? It's alright, kinda gimmicky I guess as far as games go but it is definitely a creative tool and arts and crafts project for kids.
I had a HUNCH that it will end up being an educational tool, it was a matter of time.
So basically they could not sell them, so now they giving them away.
Oh well, at least this debacle not in a landfill - some good can come of it.
Is it good?
@Kalmaro
"Has anyone here got it? Is it good?"
I have Toy Con 01.
Yes, it's good.
You need to understand how to encoding the commands.
@Anti-Matter
I cannot comment personally, since I've only played once, and I am NOT a pianist, but it seems to me it was the right idea, but the games/apps it came with were crap, and you cannot just expect most people to want to learn how to make their own, it's way over priced, people expect a certain amount
Kids will pretend to play LABO in class, when teacher is not around they will download Fortnite to play.
Wow the hatin is intense here. Even I could see from it's starting it was going to be educational learning. Anyone not seeing that is clearly stone age thinking inside the rock brain. So because Nintendo can do it but how come xbox or ps4 can't do that? Sounds like we got alot of fanboys/fangirls missing the point already.
I worry that putting Labo in schools could destroy the fun, discovery, and creativity that you get from messing with it on your own.
I consider many video games to be fairly educational on their own and also actually fun, which means they are not well suited to schools, which don't tend to be particularly good at either education or fun. Why ruin the fun of Nintendo? It feels like inappropriate product placement, which the Switch doesn't need, and something that harms Nintendo's image.
Schools are probably better off attacking subjects that students are less likely to pick up on their own initiative, such as mathematics.
On the other hand, coming up with your own new Labo projects can be tricky and could require some help. A class on building stuff with Labo - including understanding how it works and learning to use the creation tools (toy-con garage) - might possibly be useful.
I also tend to think that games with built-in editing and customization tools - from LittleBigPlanet to Mario Maker to Minecraft to RPGMaker to the upcoming Dreams - could be great for course projects in game design. Although they're much easier to pick up than game engines like Unity, they also have a bit of a learning curve, so some assistance could be helpful.
@Heavyarms55 It seems that Nintendo is providing the systems and software... at no charge is my impression
@derrin Well in that case... Cool. I hope they focus on low income schools then. Even if it's just a tax write off/publicity stunt, if it helps low-income families I'd call that a great deal.
@Heavyarms55 better in terms of price no doubt, but better in terms of educational value is less certain.
It's definitely not Nintendo's job to fix the American education system. It's a rich country that could easily afford good education.
@Sabroni Oh I don't mean to imply that it is, and America could easily change things for the better. But they wont. The US government doesn't value education, they value military power and other more political issues I don't want to get into here.
But back on topic, it is still nice of Nintendo to donate the kits, if that's what they are doing.
@Retupmocnin Only if the school sets up each console with a Nintendo Account and an internet connection. They may even use parental control across each system to prevent downloads or online communications.
@SwitchForce Tell me about it.
@jhewitt3476 I believe you are looking at this from the wrong perspective. I don't see labo as games but as the experience of building something (competition with lego/puzzles?)
@WiltonRoots a guy seriously proposed that this happened because they couldn't sell them so they decided to give them away. I worry about some of these individuals, they seem to have a ton of issues and blowing off steam on a website is not the way to solve them
@GrooveManyula I've always seen it as an educational tool with a few bonus mini games thrown in. It was clearly aimed at "the young and young at heart".
@gortsi Oh yeah that dude.He's just whining because he wanted another PS4 even though he's got a PS4.
you know what would help kids? smaller class sizes aka more teachers and more classrooms.
a project like this will help like 1% of the student population.
Well, it does fit the level of education in the us, though Arduino kits would've been much better.
Cya
Raziel-chan
With Captain Toad as President, you can be sure Nintendo will be part of the education system.
@Balta666
I imagine as teaching programming using the Switch goes, FAZZ has the right idea, multiple languages including C++, that's a good way to start
And the QoL materializes into one of it's forms after all. I figured this would become the ultimate fate of Labo, and I think Nintendo already had a back up plan for Labo the minute it hit. Looks like Nintendo will get their return on investment for this venture. More inline with the article, I hope that Nintendo and The Institute of Play can reach schools of all levels with this and not just the fortunate-- That would add to Switch's legacy on another level.
In other words, Nintendo is doing in-school marketing to gets kids to go home and beg for parents to buy them a Switch and Labo.
@sketchturner actually they didn't that is up the parents to decide themselves. But people already failed to see it's for the classroom education. Stop blaming Nintendo for your disinterested in making proper education support. All your hatin are showing online and time for you to take a time out from online and really go support your education system first. Then we can have a meaningful discussion as adults.
@SwitchForce I get the feeling they were hoping for some moody grimy "AAA" title for the Switch and are fuming because Nintendo decided it preferred to nurture children's brains and creativity rather than coming up with something that involves taking cover and stealthily killing someone with a scowl.
@Kalmaro
We bought some sets for an expo on "extended reality" technologies I took part in organising.
The robot kit had kids and parents enjoying themselves very much. But for, you know, five minutes at a time. Long-term enjoyment would require more actual game from that one.
I tried it out myself as well, and flying as the robot is a lot of fun. With the price like it is, and usability so constricted, I'm a little disappointed Nintendo didn't flesh out the game to a full adventure. That would've been great.
Supposedly the vehicle kit has more going on, but we didn't manage to get hold of that.
@SwitchForce What are you talking about? I said nothing against education. I have 4 kids and care very much about education. But if you don't think this is a marketing move on Nintendo's part, you're kidding yourself.
@sketchturner the first sentence was to your reply the rest was to others.
@Pod well thats called DLC that can always be added later on. Your already discounting the Switch already. It takes time to build a repertoire long term.
@sketchturner it's both but I didn't discount that fact is in the game plan.
@WiltonRoots that's Nintendo way innovations outside the box.
Seems very cynical.
@SwitchForce
You really think they will be adding free DLC to LABO kits?
Because I don't think so. They certainly won't get the benefit of the doubt from me on this one.
And even if they did, that wouldn't change the experience people have been having the past six months.
@Pod did I say it was free? Looks like your reading to much and missed the point completely. So now your Nintendo consultant now? The Labo is doing just fine try telling me where is xbox, ps4 now? No Labo nothing educational is coming from them. If you want to survive in the gaming world you diversify. Nintendo is doing the smart move and reaching more users.
@SwitchForce
I don't know what your objective is here, but you're obviously the one not reading what -I- was talking about before replying.
I like LABO, and I'm not saying it's doing poorly, or ought to do poorly. I like that Nintendo diversifies, and reaches new audiences.
I wrote that I feel the Robot kit is lacking in game content, considering what you're being asked to pay, when compared to the other kits.
Now, when you then say that it can be "fixed with DLC", then it could only be fixed if the DLC was free. Or you'd still be paying even more. And as I wrote, it wouldn't retroactively fix the experience, or lack thereof, that people had if they played the game half a year ago.
I admit that I have often been wrong in my asumptions about what Nintendo would do in the future, but I really am not expecting meaningful free DLC for the Labo Robot kit to arrive any time soon.
I don't think we disagree about much here, but thank you for picking a fight, to get a clarification.
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