Wednesday 27 July 2011

BENEFITS of CHESS for ACADEMIC PERFOMANCE and CREATIVE THINKING


Chess is widely believed to increase “mental muscle”. The academic benefits of the
game appear to be extensive. There are a number of studies, which support the
contention that exposure to chess enhances memory, boosts spatial and numerical
skills, increases problem-solving capabilities, and strengthens logical thinking. Many
schools all over the world encourage chess play to enhance academic performance.
 Studying chess systematically has also shown to raise students’ IQ and exam
scores (Dullea 1982; Palm 1990; Ferguson 2000), as well as strengthen mathematical,
language, and reading skills (Margulies 1991; Liptrap 1998; Ferguson 2000). Chess is
a fun way to teach children how to think and solve an ever-changing and diverse array
of difficult problems. More and more schools around the world are recognizing the
value of chess, with instruction now becoming part of standard curriculum.

Chess around the globe
A 1973 –74 study in Zaire by Dr. Albert Frank found that good teenage chess
players had strong spatial, numerical, administrative directional, and paperwork abilities.
Dr. Robert Ferguson notes that “this findings tends to show that ability in chess is
not due to the presence in an individual of only one or two abilities but that a large
number of aptitudes all work together in chess.” Dr. Frank’s study found that learning
chess strengthened both numerical and verbal aptitudes. This occurred for the majority
of students (not just the strong players) who took a chess course for two hours each
week for one school year. Other studies have added that playing chess can strengthen
a child’s memory (Artise).
A 1990 – 92 study in New Brunswick, Canada, further shows the value of chess for
developing problem solving skills among young children (Gaudreau 1992). Using chess
in grades 2 to 7 as part of the mathematics curriculum demonstrated that the average
problem solving score of pupils in the province increased from 62% to 81%.

Chess has shown to raise students’ overall IQ scores. Using the Wechsler
Intelligence Scale for Children a Venezuelan study of over 4000 second grade students
found a significant increase in most students’ IQ scores after only 4.5 months of
systematically studying chess. This occurred across all socio-economic groups and for
both males and females. The Venezuelan government was so impressed that all
Venezuelan schools introduced chess lessons starting in 1988/89.

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