Applet Review: Deep Sea Duel

Deep Sea Duel. NCTM Illuminations. http://illuminations.nctm.org/ActivityDetail.aspx?ID=207

The objective of this applet is for students to win the game by selecting a specified amount of numbered flash cards to equal a sum, before "Okta" the octopus opponent does so. Students must use addition skills, problem solving skills, planning ahead, and defensive playing strategies in order to be successful in this game. This game has varying levels, which can accommodate students in grades 3-8. Students or teachers can choose to play with either 16 cards or 9 cards and can play on easy or hard levels and with "Okta" set on "nice" or "nasty" playing. This game can be quite challenging because of the many higher order thinking skills required and the unique nature of the game. This applet is presented in a fun and kid-friendly manner, and it makes learning fun and intriguing for young students.

On another note, the game can be quite confusing for students (0f any age). The rules of the game allow a player to select a variety of cards, while only a designated number (3 or 4, depending on if the game is played with 9 or 16 cards total) of the cards selected will count towards the final sum. For example, a player choosing to play with 9 cards could have selected "10, 7, 1, 11, 6" in order to make the sum of 14. Only the numbers 7, 1, and 6 would count towards the sum of 14. I think that this is a very confusing concept for children that has very little practical application. To teach students that only some numbers within a group count towards the sum seems to contradict other, more practical concepts within the math curriculum. Also, the program did not allow the player move on to another problem once the problem had been solved. The only navigation button reset the same problem for another try. The only way I found to begin a new problem was to go back to the main menu settings.