A small pilot program in a school in England provides 30 students with PSPs to access study materials, replacing their textbooks. The kids will be using the non-gaming aspects of the popular handheld [Sony, BTW]. Engadget reports and opines:

The Nintendo DS may currently have the better reputation for educational-related activities, with Brain Age and similar titles molding minds young and old alike, but a school in England looks to be doing its best to sway things in the PlayStation Portable’s favor, announcing that’s it’ll soon begin employing some of the handheld’s non-gaming functions to take the place of old school textbooks. According to The Daily Mail, some 30 students will be given PSPs as part of the pilot program, which apparently could be expanded nationwide if it proves to be successful (one sure way to boost sales). While we’re all for putting the PSP to some non-intended uses, we can’t help but think that the school is overlooking some of the educational benefits of the PSP’s gaming options. After all, you never know when the life skills learned from guiding all those LocoRocos to safety may come in handy.

Jason, thanks