“When I grow up, I want to create video games!” I can’t tell
you how many times I have heard elementary boys state their desire to make
video games a lifelong profession. I know I’m not alone in this and PBS took on
the initiative to show how math is in fact related to the real world…even video
games!
PBS Learning Media has developed a tool for teachers to incorporate
algebra into grade 7 math through online interactive exercises. The website below is a link to a short video, in
which Julia Detar talks about the links between math and her job as video game
designer.
Students are then encouraged to play a video game that prompts students to use their algebra skills in linear relationships, rate of change, slope, graphing transformations etc… in order to achieve success in a variety of spaceship and submarine challenges.
This portal is also great for a variety of other topics,
including topics such as ratios and proportions, volume, area… Sign up is
free, but I’m not entirely sure if it is limited to US residents only.
I think this is a great resource, because if that truly is their hearts' desire, then maybe it will become a motivator to do well in math. If they have the big picture in mind (and this can apply to any student who knows what they want to be "when they grow up"), then we can encourage them to acquire the tools they will need to get there. If they need a certain level of math skills in the field they're interested in, they need to realize that, even in elementary school. This can help with their self-discipline and even just their desire to do well in math, if they see it is for a greater purpose. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteIf we are encouraged to differentiate based on a learner's interest then why not provide some substance and reality to that interest by linking something like video games to the career world.
ReplyDeleteMy brother was that student, and when he got to grade twelve, he was really struggling in math. He got into computing at Guelph, and didn't make it through the program because the math was too complicated.
ReplyDeleteI 100% agree with the gamification of math, but there is the other side as well, which is to understand the math that is involved in the creation of those programs. Kind of the historiography of of the project.