Humans are naturally motivated to solve problems, especially problems that they can relate to. Unfortunately, most classrooms limit problem solving activities to word problems in textbooks, which students often cannot identify with. Prodigy is a Mathematics App/Website that develops problem solving skills by tapping into the intrinsic attraction that many children have to games involving quests, wizards, and battles. In the game, students have to answer progressively more difficult word problems to defeat wizards, unlock health and potions, and ultimately defeat a dragon. While many of the problems in the game are similar to ones in textbooks, the ability to the program to adapt difficulty based on previous answers, and rich context in the game still makes this game worth considering for elementary school children.
