Villainy Inc: Thwarting World Supremacy through Mathematics

Villainy Inc: Thwarting World Supremacy Through Mathematics

While searching for a site for this post I came across a great educational site where students use math to try to thwart the evil plans of Dr. Wick and his sidekick Platypus (Platy). Following the Dr. Evil model for world domination, students work as double agents working for the Anti-Villainy Unit (AVU) to thwart the zany plans Dr. Wick and Platy come up with. Math problem-solving skills are put to the test as you try to solve unique and complex mathematical problems using statistics, probability, algebra, geometry, decimals, percents, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division and negative numbers.

These problems are posed as two separate missions for you to solve-
Mission #1- Dr. Wick wants to build a golf course over the Gulf of Mexico. I know, silly but surprisingly complex as you are in charge of building the course to cater to Dr. Wick's "mad" golf skills (no trees, flat ground, no curves, easy.) Students must build the course to Dr. Wick's specifications, find the area of the course then calculate the amount of materials necessary. Tools such as a ruler, calculator and notepad are available on the site.

Mission #2- Dr. Wick has bought several major fast-food chains and is trying to plant, toys that have subliminal messages in them to get people to eat at his restaurants. The missionis to design the most cost-effective children's meals, study population statistics to determine the cities with the most and least amount of children then determine the costs of setting up a franchise. Again, the multi-step problems utilize many math skills and problem-solving techniques.

Attention The site does a good job in stimulating and sustaining the user's attention. The topics are introduced problematically and you are tasked with finding a solution. The double agent role is exciting and maintained throughout the site with several variations in tasks. Information is presented in a variety of ways, on the one hand you are involved in conference calls with Dr. Wick where you are briefed by his Dr. Evilesque animated character and on the other hand you receive secret spy messages from headquarters throughout your mission. Highly engaging for middle school students. The site is also easy to use and navigate the movies are narrated and checklists and tables are utilized to maintain your attention.

Relevance Designing a golf course and establishing a franchise clearly stimulate problem-solving, achievement striving behavior. The site builds on what they have learned in class and challenges their problem-solving abilities. Learners can choose either of the missions based on their interest level then work cooperatively to calculate the math problems. The benefits of the program I believe are self-evident, students are developing math skills that will greatly benefit them in their future academic and possibly professional endeavors. Learning the skills, thought processes and mathematical reasoning and calculations necessary to design a golf course and establish a franchise are activities which can have many applications and implications for future use.

Confidence The content of the site is organized clearly, sequentially and is very easy to follow. Beginning with a brief meeting with Dr. Wick to discuss your task, then receiving secret messages from your unit during the task help the learner know what is expected of them. In addition, tasks are sequenced from simple to difficult and the learner is not able to move on to the next step until their current step is completed correctly. However, the learners are given assistance in the form of "teammates and the AVU headquarters" At any time you can call for help from someone with specific math strengths such as, estimation, identifying key parts of a problem, drawing examples etc. The learners are given control over the amount and time they might need help and receive positive reinforcement when a task is completed.

Satisfaction Feedback is given throughout the mission in the form of checks on a checklist and positive reinforcement. Once data is submitted to Dr.Wick the learner is taken back to the conference room where they receive enthusiastic praise form Dr. Wick and Platy as well as the next part of the mission. The messages from the AVU also support the learner's success with acknowledgments of that success and praise. The skills build on each other in each separate mission and the answers to the calculations are used throughout the mission. In the end, the learner gets to see the results of all of their hard work, receives praise for foiling Dr. Wick's plans and gets to see Dr. Wick and Platy disappointingly accept defeat...until the next time.

Fun yet challenging site for middle school kids that directly involves them in unique standards based instruction. There are many supports for teachers and parents and great suggestions for introducing this activity to your students.