Knowledge Points, Coins, Arcade Games, and More!
Hey there, teachers!
Have you ever wondered just how the Boddle arcade and coin systems work, or how they help students in math? We’d love to explain!
💙 What is Boddle Learning?
In case you're new here, Boddle Learning is a free, online gamified math tool. It’s web-based, so students can play in a web browser or in the app whenever and wherever! Boddle’s versatility gives teachers, parents/guardians, and students an experience specific to their needs.
- Teachers can tailor Boddle assignments to supplement lesson plans, provide in-class work and homework, find learning gaps, and support each student’s learning needs.
- Parents/Guardians can help their children by finding areas they have gaps in, building a positive outlook on learning, and encouraging learning during summer.
- Students enjoy Boddle as an engaging yet challenging game that allows them to build their foundation in essential math skills while expressing their creativity through customization. Boddle teaches students that gaining knowledge is powerful and encourages them to use that knowledge to give back to the world.
Boddle Learning is a great tool for teachers and students. It engages students through exciting and challenging game-play. It motivates them to continue learning as they reap rewards for their hard work in both the game and as their math skills improve. Boddle is also a safe environment, so teachers and parents can trust that every moment spent on Boddle edifies and grows students’ minds.
⭐ The Basics
Students play engaging arcade games while solving math problems. They start on their personal island and can teleport across the Boddle world to places like the Store or the Arcade!
As students correctly answer questions, they gain knowledge points that they can use to play the arcade games. Boddle uses knowledge points to teach students to give back to the world using the knowledge and skills they gain throughout life.
Coins are another feature students earn by playing games and answering questions. If a student answers 3 questions correctly in a row, they can spin the Wheel of Prizes to win coins or knowledge points.
Students can use coins to buy items like outfits and furniture to customize their world by changing their Boddle’s outfits and decorating their home.
🚀 Character Creation
When students first log onto Boddle, they get to create their Boddle character.
They can choose:
- the color of their Boddle,
- its face and expression,
- and, their Boddle’s outfit!
Afterwards, they’re transported to their personal island with their own little house.
As students play, they’ll earn coins they can use to buy new outfits, new hair styles, furniture for their house, and new accessories. Once an item is purchased in the Store, students can access it in their Backpack. They can also change their Boddle's appearance by accessing their Backpack.
🎉 Knowledge Points
Knowledge points allow students to access the arcade games. They’re depicted as droplets of water, and as students learn, the amount of water in their Boddle head increases.
Students gain knowledge points by solving math problems. For each question answered correctly, students earn 1 knowledge point. Then after 3 correctly answered questions, students get to spin the Wheel of Prizes where they can win coins or knowledge points.
Looking Deeper:
There’s a limit to how much water a single Boddle can hold. When a Boddle is filled with water (knowledge), the student must then use some of it in one of the arcade games.
Boddle does this to represent using the knowledge you gain to give back to the world and help others. (For example, in Planty Pounce, the water is used to make flowers grow, and in Boddle Blast, it’s used to defend.)
Students must keep learning if they want to keep playing/helping. Gaining knowledge is great, but it’s even better when you can use it to help in some way!
How to Use Knowledge Points:
Each arcade game costs a certain number of knowledge points in order to play. Currently, students can save up to 50 knowledge points at a time.
In order to play a game, students must spend the knowledge points. If they don’t have enough knowledge points saved up, students can’t access the games. To get more knowledge points, they need to answer more questions.
💰What are Coins?
Students can earn coins by answering questions and playing games. Coins act as a reward for the time and hard work students put into learning.
Students also have the option to win coins when they correctly answer 3 questions in a row. The Wheel of Prizes appears after students successfully answer 3 questions, giving them a chance to win coins or knowledge points. The Store also gives students a daily reward of coins that they can collect.
How to Use Coins:
Coins can be used to purchase items from the Boddle Store. Whether it’s buying awesome clothes and accessories or furniture and decorations, students can express their creativity and make their Boddle unique, just like them!
The Store can be found in the students’ “Menu” and “Home” pages. Items in the store update daily and have only one page. This allows students to find new and cool items every day without spending 15 minutes scrolling through the Store.
🔓Game Locks
Game Locks allow teachers to temporarily lock out the parts of the Boddle game (like the store, island features, buddy list, etc.)
Game Lock Features:
- Teachers can customize the parameters of the game lock (i.e. time or number of answered questions);
- Once the parameters are met, the game will automatically unlock;
- Students still receive coins and knowledge points during game lock;
- When the lock expires, they can spend their hard-earned rewards.
Teachers can find the Game Lock in their Teacher Dashboard. For more in-depth info about Game Locks, click here.
🎯 The Arcade
The Boddle arcade games can be found in the students’ “Menu” and “Home” pages. Boddle currently has six games students can choose from.
Each arcade game requires students to spend a certain number of knowledge points to play. This way, students are motivated and rewarded for answering questions.
Throughout the games, students encounter checkpoints that require them to answer a few more questions before moving on. This way the learning never stops!
Here’s a list of our current arcade games (we’re always adding more, so keep an eye out for updates):
- Hoppy Sprout
- Planty Pounce
- Boddle Blast
- Diner Dash
- Hot Hoops
- Soccer Strike
At the end of each game, students receive a number of coins and/or knowledge points, depending on their scores. They have the option to play again or go back to the main page.
If they want to play again, but don’t have enough knowledge points, they can easily earn more! By simply returning to the Quest page, students can answer questions to build their knowledge.
👀 A Brief Look at Each Game
Boddle has different arcade games for many reasons. (1) It’s fun! Students are more engaged with variety and options. (2) Not everyone likes the same things. Boddle wants each student to find a game they enjoy playing, so we try to offer a wide range. (3) Variety promotes learning. With so many options, things feel new, keeping the mind fresh and avoiding monotony.
1. Hoppy Sprout
In this game, students hop from platform to platform, climbing upward. Each time they land, water splashes out of their Boddle and flowers sprout up. The goal is to get as high as you can without falling. Once you fall, the game is over.
Every few platforms, students encounter a refill station. Since the Boddles can only hold a limited amount of water, they have to replenish what they’ve used. The refill stations have students answer a math question, and if they get it right, the water is refilled and they can continue playing.
2. Planty Pounce
Much like Hoppy Sprout, Planty Pounce has students pounce across gaps and land on platforms. Students can load their jump, launching their Boddles into the air. The goal is to successfully land on the platforms without falling into the gaps.
Students have 3 chances (or lives) before the game ends, which gives them a chance to learn the mechanics.
As students jump across the platforms, they must occasionally refill. Plenty of refill stations are placed along the way, so students can answer a question and increase the time they get to play.
3. Boddle Blast
This game has students defend the Boddle city from the infamous Baddies who desire chaos and probably stick gum under their seats.
At the beginning, students can choose which powerup they’d like to have to fight off the Baddies. They then increase the water pressure in the Boddle’s head and release a blast of water at the enemies.
After a few shots, their Boddle will need to restock on water. During the battle, a floating powerup appears and students can click it to refill (answer a math question). If they get the answer correct, they can continue playing.
4. Diner Dash
Diner Dash offers students a chance to play those classic cooking-type games. Students have 45 seconds to complete orders for hungry customers and must build the meal in the correct order as fast as possible. The goal is to make as many complete orders in the given time.
Depending on how fast they make the food within the time limit, students will earn points which can lead to higher rankings and more coins.
5. Hot Hoops
Hot Hoops offers students a chance to test their Boddle-basketball skills. The goal is to try to get the ball in the hoop within the 45 second window. Throughout the game, students will have chances to get more time or points with floating bonuses they can try to hit. (It’s harder than it looks.) Once time runs out, the game is finished.
6. Soccer Strike
Here, students get to play a fun soccer mini-game. The goal is to get the soccer ball into the net as many times as possible within the 45 second time limit.
Students have a chance to add a few seconds to the countdown if they successfully hit the bonuses within the net. But once the time runs out, the game ends.
😍Why Games are Important
Engagement. Boddle wants to make learning fun and engaging, yet beneficial. By making math and gaming a team (rather than opposing forces), students are encouraged to continue learning and are more apt to retain what they learn.
Our arcade games give students an engaging alternative to answering question after question. The games challenge students’ skills and discernment, but also function as a great motivator to practice math questions. They can also provide some healthy competition between their peers!
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