Math Gaming Tournament Gathers Steam
Tabula Digita reported this week that more than 3,500 students have already signed up for its nationwide educational math gaming tournament that runs now through May 2011. Signups are still available for elementary and middle school students, who will be eligible to compete for scholarship funds, electronics, and other prizes totaling more than $60,000.
The competition, co-sponsored by Intel and Dell, consists of 12 rounds of gaming lasting two weeks each and extending until May 2011. Although the tournament kicked off earlier this month, it's still open to students in grades 3 through 8, with 11 rounds of competitions remaining. The tournament is based on Tabula's DimensionU, a cross-platform learning system built around a gaming engine designed to provide an immersive and competitive learning environment in math and literacy, with additional core subjects planned for future iterations. The U Games National Scholarship Tournament specifically uses DimensionM, which offers a 3D environment in which players carry out missions by solving math problems.
DImensionU games are in use at schools serving more than 300,000 students, including schools in New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, and districts in Florida and Texas.
According to Tabula, "Scores will be computed based on game play skills but also on strategy, academic performance and an immediate 'need-to-know the math' outcome."
The top-10 elementary and middle school players from the 12 rounds will be able to attend the live final event in New York May 21, 2011. The winner in the middle school category will receive a $50,000 academic scholarship plus $1,000 in cash. The winner of the elementary category will win a $10,000 scholarship and a trip for four to Disney World. According to Tabula Digita, other awards will include iPads, iPods, gaming consoles, LCD displays, and gift cards, among additional prizes.
Students can participate in the competition by downloading the free tournament edition of DimensionU. Registration information and additional details can be found here.