Great resource for children between grades 1-6 to play fun, interactive games that strengthen their knowledge in a variety of subjects

My Take

Arcademics seems to be a constructive yet entertaining way for students to remain engaged in the content that they are learning in school. The website provides a wide variety of games, for students from 1st grade to 6th grade, to really practice a multitude of different class subjects. For higher grade levels, this could mean playing games related to algebra like "Dirt Bike Proportions," or decimal games like "Hungry Puppies." On the other hand, some games also seem to be specifically crafted for students from lower grade levels, such as "Coconut Vowels." Even if some of the games appear to be catered towards a specific age group or grade level, many of the games also have settings in which students can change the level of difficulty, content type, and game speed. I really liked and appreciated these features because providing these options truly creates a more inclusive environment, in which students from all types of skill levels and backgrounds can practice the concepts and lessons they have learned at a personalized, appropriate pace and level of sophistication.
After exploring the website myself, I found myself to be a particular fan of the game "Capital Penguin." As a lover of geography, I really enjoyed playing this game because it tested my knowledge of the U.S. state capitals, and I could definitely see my own students becoming more informed about topics related to civics, history, and geography by playing these types of games. Practically every single game on the website has fun, colorful characters in a variety of visually appealing landscapes. For example, the game "Canoe Puppies," involves 4 teams, each with their own set of puppies in costumes, racing in canoes on a lake to see who can complete addition the fastest. In my personal opinion, what these games do so well is they provide interesting and appealing animations that draw children's attention, and make them want to play the games and practice different lessons they have learned in the classroom. Therefore, despite being educational in nature, children can still find enjoyment and fulfillment by playing these games. Some games even have multiplayer options, in which students can either work with other people online to play the games, or create private lobbies in which they can join together with their friends and play these games. Having options for both single and multiplayer games really reflects the diversity of students within the classroom, and how some students learn better in a more individualized, intimate environment, while others excel in collaborative and cooperative learning atmospheres. Not only will some of these games teach students to be more independent and critical thinkers in certain contexts, but at times, some will also require them to have to build teamwork skills and learn how to successfully engage in tasks with other students.
The one critique I have for the website and its respective games involves the level of competitiveness that exists. For example, there is a daily leaderboard for the top players in each game that scored the highest amount of points, or fastest time in completing tasks. Furthermore, some games involve going up against other people to win games, including "Furious Frogs." Constructive competition should be encouraged, as it teaches students to truly refine their skills and understanding of a given concept. However, I do fear that having games with such a competitive edge could ultimately be inhibiting learning. Every student is different. Some grasp concepts really quickly and complete their work in a very timely manner. Others might not grasp topics or lessons as quickly, and might instead prefer taking their time when completing work. Given such diversity among learners, I fear that an emphasis on competition and completing games as quickly as possible teaches children that being intelligent or a good student involves how quickly you complete a given task, or how many points you can get in a game. This perspective fails to consider that mistakes are okay. No one is perfect, and the most constructive and beneficial type of learning is when you make mistakes, and learn from them. Furthermore, just because you might take longer to complete a question or game, it does not mean you understand a concept any less than any other student. It also brings up the question regarding if children are actually learning and understanding the concepts that these games are testing, or if they are just focusing on guessing and trying to finish the games as quickly as possible. Therefore, while I feel competition can be good, I do fear that an emphasis on it can diminish the self-esteem and worth of students who might just need a little more time to understand a concept or think something through.