A Healthy Dose of Difficulty

Above is one of the problems students are expected to do in the Challenge Review in ProblemScape. If you think the math is a little difficult for your sixth grader, it is intentional, not because we want students to suffer but because research shows that a healthy dose of difficulty is an important ingredient for robust learning! Productive struggle has been shown to be a very effective learning facilitator. When students attempt to solve a novel or difficult problem, they not only try to make sense of the problem but also try to make sense of what they have learned previously, and this results in deeper understanding and long term retention.

ProblemScape is a problem-based learning game in which algebra is integrated with the game play, the narrative provides motivational support for students and puts a spotlight on applications of math, and most importantly, the activities in the game encourage students to develop a deeper and long-lasting understanding of concepts.