News

Host a Game Night at Your School
August 20, 2009

Let friends, students, and colleagues know about the fun that awaits them at Calculation Nation^TM — host a game night! You can post the game night flier throughout your school to let participants know about the time and location. (A black-and-white version is available here.)

In addition, you can let your students, friends, and colleagues know about Calculation Nation^TM by proudly displaying one of the following Calcuation Nation^TM posters: Stars, Reminders, or Bubbles.

Yesterday, 1,033 players challenged themselves and others at Calculation Nation^TM, the first time that the number of visitors in a single day reached four digits. The total set a new single day record, eclipsing the previous single-day total by 27%.

Calculation Nation^TM was developed as part of the NCTM Illuminations project and released at the 2009 NCTM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Since its release on April 22, 2009, over 11,000 players have registered.

5… 4… 3… 2… 1… we have lift-off!

Calculation Nation™, an online world of math strategy games, was officially launched on Thursday, April 23, 2009. It was unveiled to math teachers during the 2009 NCTM Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. NCTM Executive Director Jim Rubillo challenged a 7th grade student from the DC Public Schools in the first game ever on the site.

Developed as a resource for the NCTM Illuminations project, Calculation Nation™ uses the power of the Web to let students challenge opponents from anywhere in the world. Players compete in online games that require math and strategy.

In the game of Factor Dazzle, for example, one player chooses a number and the other earns points by identifying all of its factors. “This game is awesome,” said seventh‑grader Lexi Hughes. “It’s dazzle‑icious!” When playing the highly addictive Slam Ball, students use their knowledge of symmetry and angles to earn points by capturing tokens on a grid.

“The games on Calculation Nation™ provide an entertaining environment where students can explore rich mathematics,” said Jim Rubillo, Executive Director at NCTM. “Through these games, students are exposed to the same mathematical topics that they see in class as well as those that are recommended in Curriculum Focal Points.” Links for parents and educators on Calculation Nation™ provide guidance about how to help kids uncover the math in the games.

The games are designed for kids of all ages, but the five games in the initial release feature content from upper elementary and middle school mathematics. “Video games are a popular and influential medium, especially for tweeners,” said Patrick Vennebush, Online Projects Manager at NCTM.

The NCTM Illuminations website offers Standards-based resources that improve the teaching and learning of mathematics for all students. Its materials illuminate the vision for school mathematics set forth in NCTM’s Principles and Standards for School Mathematics and Curriculum Focal Points. Illuminations is also part of Thinkfinity.org, a comprehensive educational website funded by the Verizon Foundation to provide free educational resources to parents, teachers, and students.