Using video games to teach kids math and science. Bloomberg Boot Camp, a report on today's technology. It is called the Games for Learning Institute.....and is a joint research project launched by Microsoft Research, New York University....and a group of other universities ranging from Columbia and Dartmouth to the Rochester Institute of Technology. Microsoft's Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie....

"With NYU at the heart and a number of other New York and New England universities, Microsoft has contributed half of the funding for an institute called the games for learning institute. The original objective will be to find out in a very academic study, whether or not game concepts can be used to promote excitement and interest in kids...in this case...between the ages of twelve and fourteen, which we view as a critical age in learning math and science."

Microsoft ...hasn't been alone in decrying the state of math and science education in the U.S. Has Mundie seen evidence of improvement?

"No, frankly math and science education is weak and getting weaker in the United States. And it's one of the reasons that we're so concerned and why we're happy to have this institute at NYU to collaborate with us on this investigation."

A study conducted in Scotland found Nintendo's Brain Age game....boosted students' math skills and improved concentration and behavior as well. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.