Up to a third of schoolchildren have fine motor difficulties that become noticeable when writing. A new digital game, which is being developed at the ZHAW’s Department of Health together with partners from ZHdK and PHZH, aims to make practicing fun.
To save the kingdom of Haal, the little fox has to find his way through a maze and collect letters along the way. He has to avoid obstacles, cross a narrow bridge, as well as find and open treasure chests. He is helped by magical powers, but he also loses them again if, for example, he touches one of the blue flowers. The new digital game “Haal” is designed to help primary school children with writing with writing difficulties can train their writing motor skills. They guide the little fox with a special pen on a touch screen through the attractively designed virtual landscape. The serious educational game is being developed as part of a research project in which the Institute of Health Sciences and the Institute of Occupational Therapy at the ZHAW are working together with partners from the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the Zurich University of Teacher Education (PHZH).