DimensionU

Math/Literacy games for K-12 students employing a social network to foster competition

Overview

The DimensionU Learning System (formerly Tabula Digita) consists of online multiplayer social games that deliver differentiated instruction in math, literacy and science. Students must answer questions (usually multiple choice) correctly in order to advance in the engaging, graphics-rich game--which is appealing to students who are active gamers and ideal for those who are strong readers. Playing individually or against friends and classmates, students can also earn virtual currency to buy in-game items--or in some cases, real spending money from parents who want to use the system to reward academic achievement (for a nominal annual administrative fee). However, the game is not yet capable of saving information in a way that makes it easy for students to review what they’ve done right and wrong, nor for teachers to track student scores easily.

DimensionU is staffed by game developers but has solicited input and feedback from students, parents and teachers, including from ongoing product advisory teams of students and their parents.

While the game is free for individual users to play, schools and districts sign up for premium memberships to track student progress: over 850,000 students in more than 1,500 schools across 70 districts--including Chicago, New York City and Miami--have used DestinationU, as well as virtual schools like Connections Academy and out-of-school providers like Computers for Youth. The company says the gameplay questions are aligned with current state standards as well as the forthcoming Common Core standards.