“’Disco Dragons’ is in first place for team points and ‘Shenanigans’ is in first place for MVP points.” This is not exactly what you expect to hear in a middle school math class, unless you are playing Fantasy Sports Math League!
Fantasy Sports Math League (FSML) is dfusion’s game-based learning resource that engages and motivates students to solve math problems, analyze data, and explore data visualization by connecting to the data and outcomes of their fantasy football players. It provides real-world relevance and math practice.
In the U.S. there has been a decline in middle school math scores and the lack of qualified candidates for jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. At dfusion, we believe there is a critical need for effective and engaging educational technology to improve math skills and help more students see themselves as good at STEM subjects. Game-based learning uses the context of a game to achieve educational goals and enhance learning in an interactive environment where children can build knowledge.
Engage: We developed FSML because sports can be an engaging way to bring real-world relevance and improve learning outcomes in STEM. Through game-based learning, students engage in problem-solving skills by planning, designing, and overcoming challenges with math embedded in every aspect of the game.
Scaffold: Students must correctly answer math problems to progress and earn team points and MVP points. FSML offers tailored support, tracking the number of attempts to solve problems and the number and type of educational supports used to answer successfully.
Assess: The embedded assessments within the game also help teachers monitor if students are making simple errors or if they have more fundamental misconceptions. As students play the game, the game keeps track of attempts and provides feedback until they solve the equation correctly. Check out the scoring examples below from FSML.
Practice: Do you remember your fraction math? Can you tell if these incorrect answers are due to student computational errors or misunderstanding of math concepts? Don’t worry, we have an answer key for you!
1. Correct or incorrect?
2. Correct or incorrect?
3. Correct or incorrect?
4. Correct or incorrect?
5. Correct or incorrect?
6. What kind of errors could happen with this equation?
Answer key
Equation 1 | Incorrect | Computational error did not reduce fraction all the way |
Equation 2 | Incorrect | Conceptual error need common denominator when adding fractions |
Equation 3 | Correct | |
Equation 4 | Incorrect | Conceptual error on following the order of operations |
Equation 5 | Incorrect | Computational error forgetting to add the second number |
Equation 6 | Adding fractions with different denominators, adding negative numbers, following order of operations, simplifying fractions, multiplying by zero |
When learning math from a traditional textbook, students often see math as difficult and boring. By using sports in game-based learning we are working to engage students to practice and apply standards-based math in new ways. We are excited about the additional “stealth” learning assessments we are building into FSML with our Phase 2 funding from the Department of Education IES (SBIR #91990024C0024), so students can demonstrate their math skills without the pressure or tedium of taking a test. We would love to hear from you if you want to learn more or have ideas to share with us!
Learn more about dfusion’s Fantasy Sports Math League!