Last semester, I took a graduate-level course called Videogames and Learning, taught by Barry Fishman of the UMich Education department (who also teaches an undergrad version). Needless to say, the class is widely beloved, despite its dense syllabus of readings on the theory of learning and motivation. I decided to write my final paper on the question, “Why aren’t there any games that teach calculus?” (At least, not any successful ones.) There are some terrific games, like the Zoombinis series, that teach basic logic; and there are some compelling games, like the free online Lure of the Labyrinth, that teach arithmetic and algebra; but no one seems to have made a game that goes past the 8th-grade level. At the same time, no one has made an educational game as rich and immersive as, say, Mass Effect, a game so slick and well-written that it’s like living in the best sci-fi movie since The Empire Strikes Back.
Over time, I realized that this was not a topic conducive to academic publishing, so the project drifted from a research paper to a design one. The result is an attempt to describe how a game could be made to teach calculus, proof methodology, and ways of mathematical thinking—all within the context of a gripping adventure. The paper is called Math Effect. I hope you enjoy it. And if you’re a game designer, I hope it gives you ideas.
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