Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto says he's now focusing on bringing Nintendo's handheld DS consoles to the classroom.

Nintendo executive Shigeru Miyamoto is famous for bringing us Mario, the Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong and Animal Crossing but the video game designer is busying himself with a different kind of project these days. Miyamoto has said the area he is devoting himself to the most is turning Nintendo brand of handheld consoles into educational aids and teaching tools.

NPR reports that in an interview with the AP, Miyamoto said the DS was already being used in museums and galleries in Japan and Nintendo had plans to put DSes in «in junior high and elementary schools» at the beginning of the new school year.

Miyamoto didn't say how the DSes might be used within the classroom but it's probably safe to assume the kids will be doing something a little more educational than Mario or Zelda. What do you think of the idea? Let us know in the comments below!