Mitchell, Fall2011
Overview: Math Playground is an interactive website that has a bunch of different games for kids of all levels. It contains games, word problems, logic puzzles, and videos. The site was designed by a teacher who’s class needed a fun way to practice math facts. The site provides great opportunities for students to work on problem solving, math art to real world math.
Content: The games that are listed all have great educational value and are based on specific concepts. The second tab is word problems. These are organized by grade level and cover many different levels. Some of the games can be selected by certain topics, others are general and cover specific topics. The problems all have a “Need Help?” button that helps explain the question if students are lost. This site also contains logic problems that help to get kids thinking, a very important skill for kids. The most valuable tab is the math videos tab that helps explain different topics for kids who need it.
Design: The layout of this site is very inviting and open for students. It is easy to navigate and fun to use. The pictures are inviting and help to understand what the games are about. The only downfall is the ads that are on the top and bottom of the pages. These are easily mistaken as part of the site. Kids might have a hard time knowing what is part of the site and what is not. The colors are very nice and would draw the attention of students very easily.