Innovation Pioneers Trial GoChess

This week Prep Innovation Pioneers and Chess Club put GoChess through its paces as Caterham Prep added another first to its belt. GoChess is a ‘connected’ chess game, with physical pieces and a ‘smart’ board, which identify, highlight and guide moves as children learn and develop their skills at the game. Several Innovators put the game through its paces, with one seasoned Year 6 expert gamely going ‘no assistance’ against other children with ‘full coaching’. “I reckon I could have taken them,” he said, as he nursed his last three pieces at the end of the time period. “I literally had no idea how to play chess when I started, but by the end I was able to make my moves without it,” said one Year 5 child.

After school, the board joined Chess Club, where it joined the coaching mix alongside the real expert teacher in the room and will be part of our ongoing provision as we expand our Chess clubs next term. As with our other AI support, it’s not about replacing, but multiplying what we can already do and giving the children more agency in their learning.

For children looking to buy their own set in the meantime, Particula have given us a special discount to use. Please check weekly notices for the link.

Happy gaming!