Educational Uses for the Sony PSP
After writing about the educational uses for the Nintendo DS, I read Paul Waelchli’s post over at his Research Quest blog about using Sony PSPs for educational purposes. Paul has been has been keeping an eye on E3 2007, the large video game industry conference. Paul noted that the new iteration of the PSP, the PSP Slim, is used in the UK for educational purposes.
My kids have both the DS and the PSP. I first purchased an original Nintendo Game Boy at a garage sale when my oldest was 5 or 6 years old. This became a mainstay on long trips. Since that bargain find (which netted the Game Boy and several cartridges for the low bargain price of $15, if memory serves), the kids have acquired every subsequent model that Nintendo has offered, as well as two or three Sony PSPs.
My oldest prefers the PSP because of its multimedia capabilities, and enjoys not only games but listening to music and watching movies on the device. Besides access to ported games from the old PlayStation 2, it also has wireless capabilities that are used frequently on our home network. I must say, the screen on the PSP is superior to other handheld devices that size, and easier for older folks to see.
So, the multimedia capabilities of the handheld device combined with a price point of around $169 have triggered some educators to think of appropriating the device for classroom use. Sony Europe has launched the PSP in Education initiative, spearheading efforts in Britain, especially, to use the device as a classroom tool. Hopefully some good research will get published out of all this
DS, GBA, Game Discussion, Game Studies, Game Writing, Making Video Games, Nintendo, PSP, Research, Serious Games, Sony, Video Game Research, Web 2.0 | John Rice | 
July 13, 2007 9:50 am
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By Paul, July 13, 2007 @ 10:50 am
John,
I am eager to see how the initiative develops as well. I think the multi media aspects of the PSP that you describe really expand it’s potential in the classroom beyond game-based learning. With the ability to watch video, listen to podcasts, and search the web there are lots of possibilities.
Granted no one has really jumped at this chance in part because the PSP was expensive compared to products that could one of those features, but also because while it did include those features none were really done better than other devices. But you are right, with a larger screen than most PDAs, Cell phones and MP3 players… someone could really use it well in a variety of educational settings.
Although I’d make the same argument now that the DS has a web browser (although very slow).
Paul
By Download PSP Game, January 10, 2008 @ 12:36 pm
I agree with your words there, I can see it is very helpful and useful, keep it up there.