I just got a suggestion for a math game website from a friend on Twitter. It is called MangaHigh and it seems to have a strength in gamified guided practice. Teachers can assign games for students to play that match CCSS math standards. Most standards have two different games for students to play one is for individual practice and does not offer much in support for misconceptions - much like the games from Sumdog. The other is set up as guided practice and explicitly reviews misconceptions with students and offers real time adaptive problem selection. They offer a 30 free trial so I am now playing around with the site and incorporating it with Sumdog for independent practice time in my math block. It does seem to me quite a bit more expensive that Sumdog, so I will need to make so I will need to see a lot of awesome growth and engagement from this site in 30 days in order to spring for some licenses.
Pros:
Cons
I love the game play for MangaHigh but I don't feel that that is enough to ensure my students buy-in. My students love the community feeling of Sumdog. They friend each other and can send and receive gifts, and the game play allows students to play the same games together, with each students practicing the specific math skill they need.
Pros:
- Game play offers both free practice and explicit guided instruction for misconceptions
- Engaging game play
- Games are connected and searchable by CCSS
Cons
- Games are connected to only one standard, rather then having games that adapt to many different standards, limiting the student engagement options
- Limited (at least in the free version) capacity for students to track and celebrate progress
- Minimal social features which create a community feeling that will in turn increase participants motivations to be an active users.
I love the game play for MangaHigh but I don't feel that that is enough to ensure my students buy-in. My students love the community feeling of Sumdog. They friend each other and can send and receive gifts, and the game play allows students to play the same games together, with each students practicing the specific math skill they need.