The utilization of chess to enhance children's academic performance: an integrative review

Anecdotal evidence affirms the educational benefits of playing chess. I present an integrative review based on the framework of Whittemore and Knafl (2005), which analyzes the literature on chess and strategic gaming. This review indicates that primary and secondary educational researchers who use chess and strategic gaming in classrooms have published critical evaluations of learning and teaching theory based on their studies. While the use of chess in education is commonplace in some educational jurisdictions, the majority of Western school systems have not integrated this practice into their curricula. Conflicting evidence has been reported on the benefits of strategic gaming, in particular chess. This structured methodology for reviewing literature takes into account all stakeholders and assesses the usefulness of chess for meeting the needs of a 21st century educational system. --Leaf ii.