However, as children play one free version in the classroom they are encouraged to play a different free version at home. Prodigy claims it is “free forever” for schools. Instead of being designed to get kids excited about math, Prodigy is designed to make money. Prodigy is intentionally formulated to keep kids playing for long periods of time, but not for the reasons that we might hope. Children can also shop with Prodigy currency, practice dance moves, chat with other players, and rescue cute pets. In this online role-playing game, children create customized wizard characters to earn stars and prizes for winning math “battles,” finding treasure, and completing a variety of non-math challenges throughout the game. The game is designed for 1st through 8th graders to play during the school day and at home. Prodigy is a math game used by millions of students, parents, and teachers across the globe.
