Making Math Fun with Gamification

Do you want your students to be excited about math and reinforce the math practice standards at the same time? We'll share info on how to do that. Chasing Einstein is a collaborative project between preservice teachers at DSU and students in 5th-7th grade classrooms. We'll tell the story and give you ideas for your own classroom.

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Resources:

• Gamification of Learning - background info on gamification
• TheFunTheory.com - Piano stairs and other videos with gamification elements.

Math Challenges:

• Math for Love - Rich Math Tasks: https://mathforlove.com/lessons/rich-tasks/

• Mathigon - Lessons: https://polypad.amplify.com/lessons

• Solve Me: Mobiles: https://solveme.edc.org/mobiles

• Solve Me: Who Am I? https://solveme.edc.org/whoami

• Solve Me: Mystery Grid: https://solveme.edc.org/mysterygrid

• Mashup Math: https://mashupmath.com/freemathpuzzles

• Area Maze Puzzles: http://areamaze.com

• Open Middle: http://www.openmiddle.com/

• Estimation180: http://www.estimation180.com/

• Would You Rather: http://www.wouldyourathermath.com/

• Esti-Mysteries: https://www.stevewyborney.com/?p=1744

• Desmos Classroom Activities: https://teacher.desmos.com/​​

Tech Tools Used:

• Flippity - tool for creating teams, etc.
• Google Sheets - used to manage scores
• Weebly - web site for the game
• Canva - web-based, graphics tool - used to create graphics for the game (team logos, etc.)
• Crazy Talk - software used to make characters speak
• Flip - used to share videos with students
  
  

Books on Gamification:

• Explore Like a Pirate by Michael Matera - Lots of great ideas!
• The Gamification of Learning and Instruction by Karl M. Kapp

Kevin Smith
Associate Professor
​Dakota State University
@KevinSmithSD

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