Math-Towers: Promoting and supporting online collaborative mathematical exploration

Math-Towers (www.math-towers.ca) is a collaborative mathematics environment for pupils in grades 7 to 9. Using a fantasy adventure game context students are presented with a mathematical challenge, given online tools for working on the problem,and provided with a messaging system by which they may exchange ideas and partial solutions. This paper presents the philosophy behind the design of Math-Towers and work with students that indicates the extent to which we have been successful in meeting our aims. The technical and social problems encountered and revisions made to address these are also described.