Local Library Takes Math Gaming Beyond the Classroom -- THE Journal

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Local Library Takes Math Gaming Beyond the Classroom

By David Nagel
06/22/10

Florida's Broward County Public Schools had already rolled out educational math gaming to its middle schoolers and had even gone so far as to host two 24-school math tournaments throughout the county this last May and the previous May. Now a local Broward County library, Pembroke Pines Library, is extending the educational gaming challenge further.

In partnership with Walter C. Young Middle School, the library is offering Tabula Digita's DimensionM math gaming system to students aged 11 to 14 and launching a summer tournament series that will run through the end of July. It's part of an effort to help students retain what they learned during the school year and to reinforce math concepts in general.

"Our library has always provided a window to a world of learning, opportunity, education, and more," said Alicia McHugh, branch manager of Pembroke Pines Library, in a statement released Monday. "Now we have added in a huge dose of 'more' with this wonderful software tool that offers students a relevant way to practice what they have learned but have fun doing it during their summer vacation."

DimensionM is a cross-platform immersive gaming environment focused on math for students in grades 3 through 12. It offers a 3D environment in which players carry out missions (lessons) in multi-player tournament-style games. Players face mathematical obstacles, which, when solved, allow them to advance and score points. According to information provided by Tabula Digita, it's 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.

Pembroke Pines Library is making the game available to students throughout regular library hours. In addition, four tournaments will be held this month and next, wit the last tournament to be held July 29.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .

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