Catch 'em all! How teachers are using Pok¨Śmon GO to teach Maths

Math isn't for everyone. For some, it comes easily, while for others, it's a hair-pulling, eye-watering ordeal! But then, there are teachers who seem heaven-sent for these struggling students. One such teacher has found a unique way to make learning math more enjoyable for all: by using Pok¨Śmon Go!

Representative Image I Pic Credit: Vanderbilt University

Pok¨Śmon GO to the rescue

Dr. Colleen Mitchell, an associate professor of mathematics at the University of Iowa, wanted to make math fun and exciting for her students. She found the answer in a game she enjoyed: Pok¨Śmon GO! By incorporating this game, she created Pok¨ŚMath.

Pok¨Śmon GO, released in 2016, is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game and part of the Pok¨Śmon franchise.

Pokemon Go/ Boston University

It uses mobile devices with GPS to let players locate, capture, train, and battle virtual Pok¨Śmon that appear in real-world locations.

The game quickly gained worldwide attention by allowing players to catch Pok¨Śmon in their surroundings. Players explore their communities, finding Pok¨Śmon, resources, and challenges based on their location.

How does Pok¨ŚMath work?

Pok¨ŚMath is a one-semester math course at the University of Iowa, offered in the spring. It covers foundational math concepts through the world of Pok¨Śmon GO.

Imagine catching Pok¨Śmon while learning set theory! Keeping track of all those Pok¨Śmon can be overwhelming, so the class starts with organising and classifying them using set theory. Students learn how to combine, intersect, and exclude various characteristics to manage hundreds of Pok¨Śmon.

Next, the course dives into functions, helping students understand Pok¨Śmon stats and performance in battles. They explore how these statistics impact gameplay and strategy.

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The second unit focuses on probability. Pok¨Śmon GO is full of random events: when and where Pok¨Śmon appear, their strength, catch rates, and the chance of encountering rare variants. Pok¨ŚMath studies these probabilities, teaching students how to maximise their chances and make the most of in-game bonuses.

Finally, the course tackles rates of change, examining how a Pok¨Śmon's health fluctuates during battles.

Instead of traditional exams, the class is project-based, reducing anxiety and sparking curiosity for Math.

Representative image/ Superprof India

Imagine the excitement if such a class were introduced in IndiaĄŞstudents might just start loving math as much as they love catching Pikachu!

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