A new Dimension

Seventh-graders at Gregg Middle School are getting hooked on math with the help of an immersive computer game called "DimensionM."

This is the first year the school is incorporating the video game into the math curriculum, and according to educators and students, it motivates learning and reinforces skills taught in the classroom.

"DimensionM," developed by Tabula Digita, is a first-person shooter and action game, which means players can control their in-game movements through their character's eyes. Players must solve pre-algebra and algebra puzzles that are woven into the gameplay to advance in the story.

Dustin Marsh, 14, was one of the students who was blasting his way through algebra problems and mutant creatures during his math period on Jan. 22 at the school's computer lab.

"It's the best game ever come up with to play at school," Dustin said.

Ordinarily, Dustin said, he plays such popular shooting games as "Halo" and "Call of Duty," but he said "DimensionM" "is still pretty fun."

Students can even install and play the game on their personal computers. Dustin said he plays the game four hours a day at home. He and the rest of his schoolmates were introduced to the game in December.

On Jan. 22, however, Dustin and some of the other students were already well into the game, stunning "spider monkeys" while simultaneously solving equations.

Keri Hayes, one of the school's math teachers who is trained in the program, said she already is seeing a lot of success and excitement from her students having integrated the game as part of her instruction.

"The game is a way for them to learn math in a fun environment," Hayes said. "Sometimes they're playing the game without knowing they're learning."

However, the program isn't meant to be a substitution for direct teacher instruction, said Patrick Pye, Gregg Middle's instructional technology specialist who also was trained in the program.

"It is meant to enrich learned material and make learning fun and exciting," Pye said.

The Center for the Advancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education trains educators such as Hayes and Pye in "DimensionM."

According to the center, part of what it teaches educators is how incorporating various technologies and electronic media, such as educational gaming, into their instructional mix engages students, because these are tools that students can understand and value.

The education center is funded by the Department of Defense and works with its laboratories across the country. In South Carolina, the center specifically works with SPAWAR (Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command).

According to Pye, the program, which includes the math game and a hands-on science portion, will be funded for the district for at least the next two years.

Two other middle schools in the district, River Oaks and Oakbrook, also have been trained. Most of the seventh-graders at River Oaks have played "DimensionM" at least once, and are just getting into it.

While at Oakbrook, seventh-graders already are using the game, with some teachers assigning sections of the program for homework.

Oakbrook also reports that one teacher holds twice-a-week gaming sessions as part of Oakbrook's after-school program.

Hayes and Pye said they, too, plan to start an after-school club for their school where any students can play against each other and even compete against other students around the country to vie for national high scores.

As far as grades go, Pye said, "It is a little early to tell."

However, teachers are able to log in to a management site and track each student's progress and identify strengths and weaknesses within specific skills.

"Hopefully, we will be able to show a boost in student achievement when we examine test data, such as MAP and PASS, in the months to come," Pye said.

When the students' math period ended Jan. 22 and the teachers told their classes it was time to log off the computer, there was an almost unanimous sigh of disappointment from the students.

Even 12-year-old Tia Greene, who doesn't often play video games, said "DimensionM" has motivated her to learn.

"I get to shoot stuff, but I'm still learning math," Tia said. The game "has helped me learn more, but I'm still having fun with it."

Reach Almar Flotildes at 937-5719 or aflotildes@postandcourier.com.