Mathematics Education for a New Era

Dr. Keith Devlin is a senior researcher and the executive director of the Human Sciences and Technologies Advanced Research Institute (HSTAR) at Stanford University. He is also a cofounder of the Stanford Media X research network and a regular contributor to NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday. His current research focuses on the use of different media to teach and communicate mathematics to diverse audiences. He also works on the design of information/reasoning systems for intelligence analysis.

… extremely thought provoking and well worth reading. … I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reflecting on why and how we teach mathematics as well as how we could bring some of the energy that students expend in video games to the mathematics classroom.—Larry Feldman, Mathematics Teacher, November 2012Well-written and accessible, with a few illustrations, the book delineates characteristics that teachers might look for when examining games, types of mathematics ideally suited for such an environment, and advantages that such a transformation might have, specifically a self-paced learning environment and motivation for reluctant learners. Devlin includes a collection of resources, both Web and print based, for those interested in further exploring the topic. … Highly recommended.—S.T. Schroth, CHOICE, November 2011Keith Devlin makes the case for embracing video games as not just an opportunity for teaching mathematics, but as an ideal medium for doing so. The opportunities gaming provides for learning mathematics are illustrated in great detail. … Devlin makes the case with care, repeatedly drawing on documented studies and educational principles.—Bill Wood, MAA Reviews, September 2011Keith Devlin is well qualified to explore these important questions. … Devlin makes the seemingly subtle but very important distinction between ‘doing Math’ and ‘being Math.’ … I hope that educational games designers use his ideas in crafting educational opportunities. And, in the meantime, teachers (and Math circle leaders) would do well to borrow some of the ideas of what works in the virtual worlds for their classrooms.—Sol Lederman, Wild About Math blog, June 2011Keith Devlin’s highly readable book sets the foundation for a new approach to learning mathematics where everyone can learn math and finally lose their math fears and phobias. The book is based on empirically well supported and lucidly explicated theories of learning, teaching, and gaming. It will become a classic.—James Paul Gee, Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies, Arizona State University and author of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning and LiteracyKeith Devlin’s latest book does a thorough job exploring the affordances that video games can provide to the teaching and learning of mathematics. He covers the current state of affairs and how games provide a great forum for math education. —Drew Davidson, Director, Entertainment Technology Center, Carnegie Mellon UniversityMathematics Education for a New Era connects Devlin’s deep understanding of mathematics education to the new research in digital-games-based learning to pave a path for re-energizing mathematics education.—Kurt Squire, author of Video Games & Learning: Teaching and Participatory Culture in the Digital AgeKeith Devlin makes an engaging and persuasive argument that online computer games can be a great way to teach basic math skills. Educators and parents who think of video games as empty frivolities will be surprised at the significant educational potential lurking within these complex activities. Game designers can use this book as inspiration for creating new kinds of games that reward players not only with fun experiences and real math skills, but also the important knack of thinking like a mathematician (and liking it!).—Andrew Glassner, author of Interactive Storytelling: Techniques for 21st Century Fiction

• Preface. State of Play. Street Smarts. The Perfect Medium. Euclid Would Have Taught Math This Way. What Is "Doing Mathematics" Anyway?. Mathematics Proficiency: A New Focus in Mathematics Education. The Key Features of Gaming. Mathematics Education and Gee’s 36 Video Game Learning Principles. Developing Mathematical Proficiency in a Video Game. Building a Successful Math Ed Video Game. Algebra and Beyond. A New Pedagogy. Suggested Further Reading. Bibliography.