ProblemScape: Value of Xperts

ProblemScape is a fun and engaging 3D adventure game with a narrative that helps students understand applications of math and makes learning algebra meaningful and relevant. The game includes videos, animations, worked examples, extensive practice, teach to learn activities that facilitate deep engagement and understanding, assessments for each concept, challenge games, and a narrative that combats math-anxiety and promotes self-efficacy and confidence.

ProblemScape takes you to the strange city of Arithma in search of your lost sibling. You need help finding them, but who can help you? The inhabitants of Arithma, the Arithmen, are by nature helpful (that is, when they're not playing paintball). The mayor of Arithma can help too, but you have to find him first, which is not always easy - he goes into hiding at the first sign of trouble! It turns out the Arithmen need your help too. The only ones in Arithma who can do math, the Xperts, have all vanished! Could this be connected to the disappearance of your sibling? And how can a city function without anyone knowing math? A young arithman who is looking for his dad teams up with you and together you will go on a quest to find your sibling and the missing Xperts. You will teach the young arithman how to solve problems and thereby getting a deeper understanding of concepts yourself, and you will be helping other arithmen along the way. Helping th mining shopkeeper to convert currency, helping the healer's assistant to mix medicine, and finding out how many gems you can mine to keep bridges from collapsing are just some of the applications you will encounter in the game. You will never be without help though and the Xpert notebook that you will carry with you, will help you learn concepts and solve problems along the way.

The multimodal math content is deeply rooted in research, follows the "Expressions & Equations" strand of the Common Core State Standards, and is for anyone who wants to learn Algebra. There are eight chapters or levels in the game, with each chapter focusing on just one or two concepts. The game helps students get a robust understanding of variables, learn different strategies for solving one-step equations and inequalities, and explore dependent and independent variables.