Math & Video Games

What do math and video games have in common?  Actually, there are quite a few similarities.  Let's start off considering video games. First of all, you have to learn how to work all the controls and know when do use which buttons when.  Second, as you gain mastery over a given game you continue to move up to more challenging and complex levels of the game.  Lastly, you have fun playing the game when you are successful at it.  I tell students math is the same way. You need to learn the rules or properties in math, how to use them and when.  You need to master the fundamentals to move up to higher levels.  Lastly, you can enjoy the feelings of accomplishment when you get better and better at it.  Now why are some students much more proficient at video games then at math?  One reason is that one's level of mastery is directly proportional(a math concept) to the amount of time spent.  More time on video games less time on math and which are you inevitably better at?  Also, math just doesn't seem to be as fun, right?  Here is where a good math teacher can help out by giving the student interesting real-life applications to work on.  Also, you can think of problems yourself that you would like to solve and see where your math knowledge can assist you to do so. As much as students are intimidated by story problems this is where math actually becomes more than mental gymnastics and serves its real purpose which is to help us in the real world.  So consider story problems the answer