The Great Games - Ratio Martian

©Arcademics. 2015. Ration Martian. [online image]
Retrieved from http://www.arcademics.com/games/ratio-martian/ratio-martian.html

©Arcademics. 2015. Ration Martian2. [online image]
Retrieved from http://www.arcademics.com/games/ratio-martian/ratio-martian.html

The game I chose to evaluate this week was Ratio Martian. This game is good for grade 6 and 7 students who are practicing recognizing ratios in different forms. Specifically, in grade 6 this game would be good in the probability unit when students have to represent the probability of an event using a ratio and in grade 7 when they look at proportional relationships. The game is based around a martian who is hungry and only eats ratios. Numbers come across the screen and students must click on ratios for the martian to eat and pass on numbers that do not represent ratios. Correct and incorrect answers are tracked and students can see their results at the end of the game. Students also have the ability to gain achievements by completing a rate of 10 ratios per minute at each stage of the game. 

Overall, I think the game is effective as a starting off point for students to ensure they can recognize ratios. I don’t believe this game is good for learning beyond that. With that said, the game provides feedback on which answers students got right and wrong so they can evaluate their work and learn from their mistakes. 

The game is clearly not something students would enjoy for a long period of time since it is very simple and there is little depth to it. However,  as a short introduction activity it could be a good way of engaging students into the subject. I also thought it would be useful as a quick evaluation of prior knowledge in grade 6 or 7. Are all your students at the same level or do you have some students who cannot recognize ratios consistently? If that is the case, it would give teachers that information and would allow them to adjust their lesson accordingly. Anything beyond introductory and I think this game would lose its value. For that reason, I think the game is a good tool for gaging where a student is at in their understanding of ratios.