K-12 Story Problem End Date Extended!

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cgsOur schools sent the message, and we got it loud and clear! April and May are busy times for testing, so why not give everyone more time to participate in the challenge?

Today, we’re pleased to announce an extension to our end date – sign up and start the Challenge as early as April 27 (next week!), and go at your own pace until June 5, 2015, when we close up our leaderboards for the 2014-15 school year.

With our new date, we’ll be adjusting our goals and shaking things up a bit. With even more time, we can’t wait to see what the students of Washington state can accomplish together.
Visit the site!
Check out all our videos
Watch the main K-12 Story Challenge Video
Learn more about the Common Core Problem Types
Sign up now!


CGS on the Go!

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cgsIt’s spring, which means we’re taking time away from our computers (briefly) to head to various events around the region!

Catch CGS developers at the following events:

April 22: Bennett Elementary Science Night (Bellevue) – come talk to us about Foldit, Nanocrafter, Center for Game Science projects, and most importantly our upcoming K-12 Story Problem Challenge starting April 27.

April 24 and 25: We’re so excited to be participating in Engineering Discovery Days, so look for us in the CSE building atrium. Stop by both days and grab an “I love Algebra” sticker, play our games, and ask us all the questions on your mind about blending together quality gaming and academics.

May 9: A few brave developers and Foldit team members are headed north to the Shoreline STEM festival.

We can’t wait to meet all of you!


Can Washington Schools Solve Over 250,000 Story Problems In One Week?

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cgs

For immediate release:

The Center for Game Science at the University of Washington is pleased to invite all K-12 classrooms around Washington state to participate in this year’s “K-12 Story Problem Challenge”, a story-problem-based Algebra Challenge. During the week of April 27 – May 1, participating K-12 classrooms will be challenged to solve over 250,000 story problems collectively by playing new math learning game Riddle Books, which teaches Common Core-aligned pre-algebra concepts via story problems in a friendly game-based environment. All grades and all levels are invited to participate – the challenge is designed to enable any learner to solve story problems at their grade level and beyond. In the K-12 Story Problem Challenge, “If you can read it, you can solve it!” Signups are currently available for classrooms by visiting our site.

Participation is completely free, and the game will work on any recent web browser. Any class with access to a PC, Mac, or Chromebook can join the challenge.

Riddle Books, created by the Center for Game Science at the University of Washington, presents story problems with fun fantasy-based themes. It aims to develop learners’ understanding of Common Core concepts with a focus on developing conceptual understanding through visual models. It uses story problems to gradually introduce the player to the notion of equations. The game starts off with the player manipulating pictures and dealing with relationships they can intuitively understand and enables students to solve story problems regardless of their skill level. The challenge will also feature an innovative, free Teacher Copilot that allows teachers to view real-time student gameplay data and helps to remove key misconceptions at the group and individual level.

“Young students have a great time puzzling through these modeling story problems and turning them into equations,” said Mike Taylor, Center for Game Science Curriculum Development Specialist. “Plus, the unique stories keep them coming back for more.”

The K-12 Story Problem Challenge provides an opportunity to use the state-of-the-art tools from the Center for Game Science, featuring immediate feedback, differentiated learning paths, and active involvement through experiential and discovery learning. The Center for Game Science at the University of Washington is a leader in research-based adaptive learning through games.