Online Math Games

  

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However, we know that many digital games, though engaging, often lack educational benefits and can waste precious classroom time. The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) recognizes this problem and provides a list of questions to help educators evaluate these online games.  Here are a few of them:

• Is there variety in the math tasks?
• Is there embedded scaffolding?
• Is the competition positive and non-threatening?
• Are there suggestions to integrate the game into the classroom?
• Was the math situated in a meaningful context?

In addition to a comprehensive list of evaluation questions, NCTM also provides a list of vetted online math games for elementary, middle school, and high school classroom use.  However, educators should be wary that some of these online games, because they are free, contain advertising that can be disruptive to the learning process.