Educational Aspects of BLINK

Blink is a simple game-easy to learn and easy to play. The speed element contributes to the appeal for older children and adults, who tend to play a much more competitive game. The educational aspects are strongest for younger learners where their attention is focused more on the activity than on the speed of play. Older children often enjoy the mathematical challenge of setting up a tournament. This involves developing a graph to determine which players play each other in the numerous rounds and charting information on wins.

Promotes visual discrimination

• Practice in distinguishing colors and shapes quickly
• Practice in distinguishing patterns for number of icons in a field

Increases eye-hand coordination

• Players quickly locate cards with characteristics that match
• Players quickly draw cards and play them to the center piles

Reinforces math skills

• Promotes recognition of number sets (Numeration and Number Theory)
• Reinforces ability to match sets of objects (Numeration and Number Theory)
• Supports the ability to identify and recognize patterns (Problem Solving)
• Develops and reinforces strategies for matching (Problem Solving)
• Reinforces comparing, sorting and classifying skills (Geometry)
• Improves recognition and extension of number patterns (Algebra)
• Promotes the identification of similarities and differences in sets of objects (Algebra)

Motivates players

• Easy to learn; quick to play
• Players learn strategies to improve play
• Players speed improves as they play
• Deck can be adjusted to equalize players abilities

Develops interpersonal skills

• Opportunity to learn and practice skills needed for competitive situations