Math Games
Overview
Math games invite learners to practice skills in a fun, applied context which supports learner agency and a learner mindset. Math games motivate learners to develop meaningful connections with content, often support Attention, and can lead to positive math experiences.
Use It In Your Learning Environment
Watch how this elementary school integrates different types of math games to stimulate enthusiasm for math learning. Through computer games and hands-on activities, students are highly engaged, build their math skills, and develop a love for math.
Apply It In Your Learning Environment
Example: Use This Strategy In in the Classroom
Design It into Your Product
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- Engaging with computer games and hands-on activities can be intrinsically motivating while learners build their math skills and develop a love for math.
- Math games on computers have the potential to improve students' proficiency in math. For example, research has shown that using computer manipulatives to solve geometric puzzles improves students' Spatial Skills.
- Caution should be taken when providing extrinsic motivation such as gameboards that promote competition, token based rewards such as points, and scores for advancing levels that do not include growth mindset feedback.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Active Learning Strategies
Building with blocks is ideal for promoting early geometric and Spatial Skills.
When students explain their thinking process aloud with guidance in response to questions or prompts, they recognize the strategies they use and solidify their understanding.
Free choice supports learner interests and promotes the development of more complex social interactions.
Imagining allows students to step back from a problem or task and think about it from multiple angles.
Response devices boost engagement by encouraging all students to answer every question.