What is Prodigy?
Prodigy is a website that focuses on game-based learning. The student takes on the role of a wizard who goes on quests and collects gems throughout the journey. The student must complete math or literacy problems to collect the gems along the quest. Prodigy offers Language Art questions alligned with grades 1 to 6, and mathematics questions aligned with grades 1-8.
My experience using Prodigy:
Today in class, my cohort and I tested out the website Prodigy. When you first open Prodigy, you can design your own wizard, and choose a name for it. Prodigy offers two subjects to choose from Math and English. Both subjects offer tons of games for students to choose from based upon their grade level. I was captivated by this form of gameification of education, I loved being able to design my wizard, and following a storyline throughout the game while practicing math skills. When I got a question wrong, I did not feel ashamed, I knew that I would get another opportunity to test my skills again. The combination of game play and academic questions was well balanced, so I did not
Prodigy for TEachers:
The teacher version of Prodigy has been claimed to be a great resource in the classroom. It promotes engagement in the subjects LA and Mathematics, helps students master their skills because of the elevated level of engagement, and teachers can track the progress of their students while they go through the Prodigy quests.
Gameification of Education
Benefits:
Gamifying subjects such as math can make the subject more appealing for students. It can provide more motivation to practice their math skills while they in turn are playing a game. For many students’ math can be intimidating, and getting the wrong answer on a math problem can be discouraging. If you incorporate a game while practicing math skills, students have another motive to solve problems, and the mistakes they made can be redeemed at another level.
Drawbacks:
While there are many benefits of Gamification, gamification can lead students to be more focused on the elements of the game, over the study material, distract learners from learning objectives, and some students can become more attentive to the awards over the learning process.
Educational game sites:
Math Games 🕹 Free Online Math Games at HoodaMath.com
