BENEFITS of CHESS for ACADEMIC PERFOMANCE and CREATIVE THINKING

www.vivacityinc.com/chess 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. [2] Many schools all over the world encourage chess play to enhance academic performance. [10] 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. [3] More and more schools around the world are recognizing the value of chess, with instruction now becoming part of standard curriculums. [3] 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. [4] 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). [3] 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%. [9