Review by Sol Joye, Common Sense Education | Updated October 2013

Refraction

No-frills fractions game leaves a lot up to teachers

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • Math
Skills
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is a recommendation by Common Sense Education and not the developer/publisher.
3–4
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (1 Review)
Price:  Free
Platforms:  Linux, Mac, Windows

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5 images

Pros: Simple to use and aimed at conceptual learning.

Cons: No teacher dashboard to track student progress, and one-dimensional gameplay.

Bottom Line: Splitting lasers is a fun and interesting way to frame fractions, but Refraction could use more scaffolded connection to how students will actually use fractions.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Teachers can use Refraction to introduce fractions, but it'll probably work better as a post-lesson practice tool. This way, students can better understand what Refraction is trying to do by merging fractions with laser bending and splitting. Used as such, it's an ideal tool particularly for homework -- it's likely to get students more excited than traditional exercises, doesn't take up an extended amount of time, and doesn't require any software or purchases. As an at-home tool, however, it would be even better if there were a teacher dashboard where you could track student progress when they play at home or in class. 

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Standards:

In Refraction, students bend and split lasers around obstacles in an effort to solve a puzzle and save stranded animal space explorers. But Refraction isn't just a puzzle game -- it's also about fractions. As the puzzles get more difficult, students not only bend the lasers around obstacles to reach their goal, they also split the lasers into separate weaker beams, fractions of the original full-strength laser. In theory, this puzzle-solving helps students learn and apply the ideas of basic fraction manipulation. There are helpful instructions and hints throughout, though no major documentation is included.

While an engaging and somewhat beneficial format for learning and applying fractions, this is no slam dunk. What Refraction needs is an intuitive and explicit connection between the action of splitting and bending the lasers and the manipulation of fractions outside of the game. This could take the form of additional levels that get students working with fractions in more authentic settings, until students are using fractions in a clear, numeric system as is required outside of the game. As it stands, this missing formative step is left up to the teacher, limiting Refraction to homework or supplemental practice.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

While initially engaging, the repetitive nature and one-dimensionality can wear thin quickly. Solving puzzles a few levels at a time or as supplemental activity to more in-depth learning may work best.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

While the puzzle solving nature is useful in practicing the fundamental concepts of fractions, learning is not explicit enough to guarantee retention. Unfortunately, it starts to feel like antiquated drill and kill design.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Support is very limited. There is no dashboard to progress. Starting instructions, pop-up hints and tips do aid players when getting started, but beyond that players are on their own.

Common Sense Reviewer
Sol Joye Classroom teacher
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Key Standards Supported

Number And Operations—Fractions

  • 4.NF.1

    Explain why a fraction a/b is equivalent to a fraction (n × a)/(n × b) by using visual fraction models, with attention to how the number and size of the parts differ even though the two fractions themselves are the same size. Use this principle to recognize and generate equivalent fractions.

  • 4.NF.2

    Compare two fractions with different numerators and different denominators, e.g., by creating common denominators or numerators, or by comparing to a benchmark fraction such as 1/2. Recognize that comparisons are valid only when the two fractions refer to the same whole. Record the results of comparisons with symbols >, =, or <, and justify the conclusions, e.g., by using a visual fraction model.

  • 3.NF.1

    Understand a fraction 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into b equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b.

  • 3.NF.3

    Explain equivalence of fractions in special cases, and compare fractions by reasoning about their size.

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Teacher Reviews

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Featured review by
Katie L. , Technology coordinator
Technology coordinator
Mark Sheridan Math and Science Academy
Chicago, United States
Laser beam refraction that reinforces fractions
I wish the students had a log in that allowed me to track what level and puzzle they were on. It would also be nice if there was a way to tell whether they were having trouble with refraction or the fractions. The levels increase in difficulty and that is nice, however, I wish there were more real life example/problems that the students could work on at higher levels. This game has a very simplistic goal. If you are looking for something basic and kind of fun for your students than this will serve that purpose. However, if you are looking for more in depth problem solving work with fractions then this isn't your game.
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