Teaching the Concepts of Addition and Subtraction Digitally
We prototyped how to teach the concepts of addition and subtraction to children, a particularly difficult challenge. Many schools had taught 2+3=5, but not what it means, and very few children had heard of the word “subtraction.”
Outcome: After multiple prototypes, we found that interactive “sticky stories” were best at teaching new concepts and keeping children engaged.
Emphasis on Vocabulary
Before: Minimal Vocabulary Use
The original lesson used new vocabulary sparingly. As new words were unfamiliar, children often missed them. Children did not realize they were doing “subtraction.”
After: Repeated + Center Stage
The balloon game said the word “subtract” hundreds of times. Children were asked to say “subtract” out loud. Hitting the minus button produced “Beep, beep. Subtraction in progress.”
Sticky Story
Before: Clean Design as the End
Addition and subtraction was demonstrated using marbles in a bag, a straightforward, traditional model that even the staff found boring.
After: Use Stories to Engage
We found children much more engaged when they were affecting the story. Like too many hats falling off with addition, children needed to affect the character with their tools.
Consistency
Before: One Context Across Simulations
In an early prototype, every example was about balloons. When we asked children what addition and subtraction meant, they told us going up and down.
After: Diversify Contexts
Because children often identify patterns we did not intend, the concepts of addition and subtraction were shown across many different contexts and simulations.
Our Client’s Response
“Wow! I don’t think I can pick the most important [point]. I have learned so much from each engagement, and the content principles that have come out of the work are what help to give us focus every day.”
“I really appreciated the ability to rapidly discuss, assess, and adjust as needed to keep optimizing the appointments! And I appreciated the collaborative feeling.”
“Repetition isn’t a turn-off but a useful teaching tool.”