Deployment of games for mathematical learning

Deployment of mathematical games is largely concerned with what happens after a game is designed, and needs to take into account the attitudes and experience of the individual teacher, the classroom environment, and the motivation and prior learning of the students (that is, prior knowledge of the subject and prior knowledge of games). Games are located in a specific cultural milieu, which requires consideration in addition to the usual e-learning implementation. Most of the uses of games in education are based on commercial simulation games being reapplied to an educational context. Games for mathematics education are usually smaller games that have been specifically designed to teach mathematics. Both situations have found the value of games to be the increased motivation of students, and also promote the empowerment and autonomy of students over their learning, and support constructivist models of learning. Developments within the multiplayer online gaming may be able to be exploited in collaborative learning within education, but this is constrained by teachers’ exposure to these forms of gaming.