Profiles of Working Memory for Educational Research (POWER)

Profiles of Working Memory for Educational Research (POWER) is a game-based software that is used to assess working memory in school-aged children with limited language skills. Administered on a computer, the game-based environment uses a touchscreen-based assessment within a “pirate adventure” framework and also includes rewards and a virtual store. The software does not intend to improve working memory, only to provide assessment, and may be used by researchers and educators.

Background: 
Working memory plays a vital role in our ability to concentrate, follow instructions, and hold on to information to utilize it. If a child has poor working memory, this can affect word learning, math, and other subject areas. Therefore, a reliable, accurate assessment is necessary to identify children with poor working memory and word learning in order to strengthen these skills early on.

Applications: 

• Working memory assessment in school-aged children
  • Public schools
  • Private schools
  • Online tutoring companies
  • Home tutoring services
• Self-assessment web tools for parents
• Childhood cognitive research

Advantages: 

• Incorporates gamification aspects and rewards children with prizes from a virtual store for completing activities
• Can be used in multiple environments