(1) Q: What is a Learning Progression?

A: A Learning Progression is a description of qualitative change in a student’s level of sophistication for a key concept, process, strategy, practice, or habit of mind. Change in student standing on such a progression may be due to a variety of factors, including maturation and instruction. Each progression is presumed to hold for most, but not all, students. See the two provided Learning Progressions for examples.

(2) Q: Where can I find other Learning Progressions?

A: There is a great deal of research on Learning Progressions in various subject areas. In mathematics, these are sometimes also referred to as “Learning Trajectories,” “Hypothetical Learning Trajectories,” or “Developmental Models.” A quick search on your preferred scholarly search engine for one of these phrases should be helpful.

(3) Q: How specific are Learning Progressions?

A: Yes, learning progressions can differ by what we call their “grain size.” Progressions can be very fine grained (that is, they record even the slightest changes in thinking) or very wide grained (levels categorize large variations in thinking, with new levels indicating some new conceptual leap).

(4) Q. What kind of Learning Progressions is ETS providing?

A: The learning progressions that we provided you with (Equality and Variables and Functions and Linear Functions) were wide grained, with only five levels that go from rudimentary thinking on the subject to a very deep and complex understanding. Your challenge is to design a game that can assess the level of the learning progression that the student is performing at (i.e. distinguish the twos from the threes and the threes from the fours). If your progression is wide-grained, like ours, there can be many students at level three and some that may be stronger than others (closer to level four). That’s okay! Think of it as having just reached a level of a game versus defeating that level.

(5) Q. Does my game have to use all five levels?

A: Games that you design do not have to cover all five levels of the progression, but we recommend covering at least three. (If you can get all five, that’s great!)

(6) Q. Can I provide my own progression? If so, what grain size should it be?

A: Yes, you can provide your own progression. It can be of any grain size you wish, but it should have a foundation in research (either research published by someone else or research done by you/your colleagues). Please tell us what the progression is and where it came from. For more information about Learning Trajectories in Mathematics, please see this informative document from CPRE. Appendix A has a long list of research-based learning trajectories in mathematics.

(7) Q: What platform should I use?

A: We’re interested in the ideas behind your game, not using the game itself, so it can be programmed for any platform where we can view it.

(8) Q: Is it okay if my game is in an app store/released to the public?

A: It is fine if your game is already being disseminated, but you must own all rights to your ideas and the submitted game.

(9) Q: Do I retain my Intellectual Property?

A: Yes, you will retain ownership of your Intellectual Property, including your project and submission, regardless of whether you win a prize or not. You will not be asked to share your source code with anyone at ETS nor any of the judges.

(10) Q: How big can a team be?

A: Teams of any size may enter, but should your project win, only one team member will be granted the all-expenses-paid trip to ETS for the Learning and Games demo. Other team members may attend at their own expense.

(11) Q: Who do I contact with questions?

A: If you have questions about the rules, add them in the discussions forum or email us at gameschallenge@ets.org. If you’re having technical problems with the site, the fastest way to fix them is to email support@challengepost.com.