Virtual Education Journal Winter 2013

Page 29

The Math Mage has taken an educational app and made it a truly fun and challenging game. Made by RGH games, the Math Mage is really challenging. Students select their difficulty level. I would suggest starting at easy, because you are given a walk-­‐through of how the game is played. In order to kill the monsters students must solve the math equations. The math equations get progressively harder. If they take too long, the monster will kill them. Just as in RPG there are levels. The higher your level, the more weapons or powers you have. But, then again, the problems are harder to solve. KenMaster is a kashiko game, a type of mathematics and logic puzzle, that is stimulating and increases in difficulty as you progress. Puzzle games like Zentomino HD takes the fun of Pentominoes (Math based puzzle game involving geometric shapes) and puts it on a handheld device for students to solve. Students love to solve puzzles, especially if they aren’t too hard. One of the great things about gaming apps is the leveling. These games start you with a simple puzzle to solve and gradually increase the difficulty to keep the player challenged. If it’s too easy, the student will be bored. Likewise, if it is too hard the student will just not want to waste their time. Machinarium has a storyline and is quite cutely drawn. Students have to solve the puzzle in each scene to move the robot along. Clues can be attained by playing an in-­‐game challenge. The story writing potential coupled with the puzzle solving aspects give this game much potential for use in the classroom. These are just a few of the great gaming apps that are available. The vastness of apps that are available in the App Store or the Android Store

29


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.