DragonBox Numbers teaches children number sense. This foundational knowledge allows a child to reason with numbers in a flexible way, building a strong relationship with numbers, which will in turn help them move onto more complex mathematics. The app contains four different activities, each designed to challenge the player to use the Nooms and basic math in a different way. The sandbox level of their game, in particular, is very unique. It allows children to freely play with numbers. This builds a curiosity and positive association with numbers through play. However, it goes one step further, in that it allows children to learn through play and discovery—which gives the player a deeper understanding of numbers, more so than, for example, a game based on quizzes and the memorization of math facts. Additionally, children are not just playing with numbers. They’ve created colorful characters called Nooms, which represent each number on the numbers line, until ten. Each Noom has their own look, their own personality. Children get to know these Nooms, they interact with them on a very personal level, thereby deepening their understanding and engagement in their early math development, and allowing them to move onto more complex mathematics in the future. DragonBox is a 2017 EdTech Awards honoree. Learn more.
By: Victor Rivero