Mathsframe: A teacher's guide

What is Mathsframe?

Mathsframe is a platform for developing mathematical skills in children. It was developed by a teacher who could see the potential of creating interactive maths games for promoting understanding. Within the platform you will find a series of games that are designed to improve a child's ability to carry out mental calculations. The games have been created using Unity3D and can be played on any device with an internet connection, including tablets and smartphones.

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How does Mathsframe work?

The game consists of two parts: 1) A set of pre-designed levels which teach basic concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; 2) An online leaderboard where players compete against each other to achieve high scores. Each level has multiple questions which must be answered correctly before progressing onto the next one. If a player answers incorrectly they receive negative points which reduce their score. Players may also earn bonus points if they answer all the questions within a time limit or reach certain milestones during play. Once a question is completed successfully, its icon appears at the top right hand corner of the screen. This allows users to check how many correct answers were given without having to scroll through every single question.

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What sort of games are on Mathsframe?

As the platform has been developed by a teacher in the UK you could expect most of the maths national curriculum to be covered. This includes:

• Multiplication games including: Archery arithmetic - multiplication, magical maths mission - multiplication, maths fishing - multiplication
• Mixed operations
• Time resources including: time between analogue

As well as developing an understanding of different types of calculations and advancing multiplication knowledge, children can also assess their progress over time. Their ability can be assessed with maths questions that check for their understanding.

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Using other Maths Resources

Children often struggle with understanding abstract concepts such as number. Many of our member schools have been using the block building methodology to make number concepts visible and tangible. The blocks are about the size of Duplo Lego bricks and can be written on using miniature whiteboards. Our member schools have used this process to make number work easier to grasp. The colours can be used to highlight patterns and make numerical concepts 'real'. Interactive games using technology are engaging but we have become increasingly conscious of the amount of time children spend in front of screens. This methodology makes learning social as well as engaging. The blocks can be used to create different shapes that depict different number concepts. You can find out more on our webpage.

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