1) The document describes a vocabulary learning vest designed by an English teacher to play matching games with students. The vest holds picture cards in 16 pockets and uses numbers and colors to call out matches.
2) It discusses how the vest could be used at KidZania to provide vocabulary training for activities, entertain children waiting for activities, and potentially sponsor branding.
3) Future goals include developing the vest product further with logos, websites, marketing, and expanding uses to teach other languages and subjects for schools, families, and care facilities.
2. Introduction
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As an English teacher in Japan, I used many picture
word cards to introduce new vocabulary. However, these
games often required lots of space for children to play
and lots of time to put children into groups, along with
rearranging tables and chairs.
To save time and space I designed a unique styled vest
which enabled games to be played in a vertical and
portable position. My plan was to design and create an
original, convenient, interesting and fun product.
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• Now, using the vest, ask the children to find the 8
pairs of cards by taking turns to call out a colour and
a number on the vest.
• The person wearing the vest will reveal the cards
• If a matching pair is not found, praise the child and
move on to the next player.
• If a matching pair is found, praise the child, high five
and give them a reward (sticker or candy).
• Also, if a pair is found, move to the next child to give
them the opportunity to play.
• There are no requirements to match all the cards,
therefore the game may be ended on the spot. This
makes the activity convenient and adaptable and could
be played anytime, or anywhere.
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Vest Match and KidZania
Initially, Vest Match, previously known as “Englishman” at
KidZania Koshien was introduced to promote the English
Activity Program. However, I soon realised that the vest
had far more potential and could become an additional,
original only to KidZania, edutainment product.
These are just a few examples on how Vest Match
could benefit KidZania.
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• First, Vest Match would be an unexpected free
activity for children while taking a break or waiting
for activities to start.
• Most activities at KidZania are inside Establishments.
Therefore, adults don’t really have the chance to see
or hear everything. With Vest Match, adults can use
the opportunity to learn a little bit about what their
children will be doing.
• Speed up activities: Prepare children outside
Establishments by giving them a PAT.
PAT- Pre Activity Training
Some children require more assistance than others to
complete their activities. One of the reasons for this is
6. because some children require more preparation and
explanation time.
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Vest Match could empower children with important
and useful key actions, words or phrases which are
used in activities. Children would learn while playing,
without conscious awareness. Simply put, learning
without realising. This would have a positive impact on
the flow of activities as PAT would make children feel
more confident without fear or intrepidation. PAT
would provide children with the know-how and enable
children to carry out activities with a spring in their
step.
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PAT- Post Activity Training offers children the chance
to cement and remember some of the key words used
in actual activities, especially if they decide to do the
same activity again on a return visit to KidZania.
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When and where should Vest Match take place?
Outside the Establishments while Children wait to
enter and also after activities. Vest Match could also
provide a strong presence, moving around the park,
entertaining children and adults.
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7. • Vest Match could also attract a new brand or
present sponsor, increasing their exposure from a
static Establishment, to potentially, a walking
billboard with the brand logo emblazoned on the
back of the vest.
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• The multi-roles of Vest Match could also include
edutainment, a walking billboard and a park
information / tour guide.
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• The vest is also a great icebreaker to communicate
with guests. It also builds upon staff / guest
relations and goes beyond the usual pleasantries
of…”Is everything to your satisfaction?”etc.
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• The vest is a simple idea, yet effective, cheap to
make and appeals to the eye.
• Vest Match could also be played in restricted
spaces.
• Vest Match could teach words which are relevant to
everything KidZania, including the language of
KidZania i.e. Kai, KidZos, Z-U etc.
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• The possibilities for Vest Match picture word cards
are endless. The cards could be related to anything.
8. All Establishments / activity related.
All age groups (Pics for toddlers / words and pics for
children / higher level words for junior students).
Events / Various themes / topics / Culture related.
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My most recent idea is to make cards that are related
to our senses (perception). For example, hearing /
audioception, touch / tactioception, smell /
olfacoception…
cards that are tactile to touch, rough, smooth, hard
and soft.
Cards that are scented with smells related to
Establishments and sponsors. Cards that smell of
chocolate, bread, flowers etc.
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As you can see, the vest is very versatile. Here are a
few more examples.
• The vest has been used as a learning aid for adults
(Teaching English to speakers of other languages).
9. • The vest could be used by anyone, Zupervisors or even
children. This entertaining role could become a job role
for children to earn extra KidZos.
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• At KidZania Koshien I trained 2 junior high school
students to perform Vest Match as part of their school
work experience. It was great to see children,
teaching children.
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• The vest could also be used as an aid for teaching
other languages. Here is a vest I designed to teach
Chinese. I replaced the numbers with kanji characters
and picture cards with Chinese words.
10. Improvements
• I have added sound effects using a small, self-
assembled, battery operated, effects controller with a
speaker.
Future Goals and Potential
Propose Vest Match to KidZania combined with a new
role. The role could be based around performing,
training, development and events rotating around Vest
Match.
• Design Vest Match logo.
• Set up a homepage.
• Find out how to market the vest.
• Develop idea independently and look for help
marketing the product.
Market and sell the vest to schools to teach languages
and various other school subjects.
Market to parents, to use at home with their children.
Sound effects and
audioception.
11. Residential / care homes.
Children’s Hospitals.
• Develop characters / story.
• Raise profile / Entry for Good Design Award.
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I have numerous ideas for the vest, but now I’m
requesting your kind assistance. I’m sure, that with your
background, experience and potential, I we could take
Vest Match to the next level.
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Note:
At the moment Vest Match is the running name of this
product, I’m also considering the following names;
Pocket Pairfection
Pocket Pairception
Pocketcard Fun
Pairfect Pocket Match
Peeping Pairs
Peeping Pocket Pairs
Pop-up-Pairs
