Education professionals have defined a new term, “21st Century Learning,” to encompass just how much technology has changed learning. In a world of interactive textbooks and freedom of web-based search, the intention of these new technologies is for learners to become autodidactic. One exciting new application, Dragonbox, has been extensively tested and proven to do just that, teaching Algebra in a way that feels like playing a game.
“Today, students are surrounded with pressure to focus on qualifications, rather than exploring their interests. On A-level and undergraduate courses, it’s commonplace for students to be presented with past exam papers right from their first week ofstudy.”
Source: The Guardian
Sure, you can still go to school and learn the basics. But if you’re interested in something more challenging, there is always a Youtube video, an app, or even a game for that.
Sure, you can even learn Algebra, in, you know, an Algebra class..
BUT ACTUALLY
Thanks to an exciting new app, you can learn Algebra in 42 Minutes. Maybe not in such a short period of time, but the learning application Dragonbox has evidence of actually teaching K-12 students algebra quickly in the guise of friendly graphics and game play. The game sneaks abstract algebraic critical thinking into digestible chunks, more suitable for learning. Gone are the days of suffering through mind numbing rote memorization and daydreaming out the window while our frustrated Algebra teachers banged their heads against the wall.
“The app is like a game, and it starts at an abstract level: The player has to match small cartoon icons with their matching “dark” alternatives, eventually arranging the pieces on the playing board so that only the magical “box” of the game’s title is left on the board. As the child plays through the levels, the abstract cartoon icons are eventually replaced with numbers and proper mathematical symbols, but with the same gameplay and sound effects.”
Source: NY Times
The word Algebra comes from the Arabic “al-jabr.” The Arabic translates to “missing pieces,” in otherwords, “x.” This game emphasizes these “missing pieces” as fun graphics that you can play and learn actual algebraic problem solving skills, rather than matching colored tiles in Candy Crush and draining your checking account.
“Our first game, the math game DragonBox, has received incredible reviews, and we see from our tests in Norway that between 60-80% of the kids that play the game for two hours are able to solve mathematical equations. We believe that with the support from the Center for Game Science, we will be able to increase this result to close to 100%.”
Source: Avatargeneration
