BANGALORE, KA—Several forward-thinking schools have begun to use the First In Math® Online Program (FIM), and already some of their most enterprising students are surging ahead of their peers in the National Top Player Ranking. As of 22 November, 2010, the #1-ranked player is Abharna, from Achariya Bala Siksha Mandir in Achariya. Students from St. John's High School in Bangalore and SBOA Matriculation Hr Secondary School in Chennai make up the rest of the top five.
NovusSTS, a leader in global technology education, is bringing First In Math to schools in India. Schools can apply for a “Pilot Program” to study how FIM, an innovative tool that promotes practicing maths, will best support their curriculum.
“First In Math is appropriate for standard K to 8 students, offering broad content with an open-ended, self-pacing design that is ideal for all types of learners,” says FIM Implementation Specialist Monica Patel. Patel also points out that the program’s competition component and Ranking system keeps students motivated. As they play, students earn award “stickers” that accrue to their personal and classroom score, which are displayed in the FIM Rankings. Current National Top Five Players, listed by FIM User ID, are:
| Rank* |
Player ID |
Stickers |
District |
School |
State |
| 1 |
24caper34py |
4,995 |
Achariya |
Achariya Bala Siksha Mandir |
PY |
| 2 |
16cyan97ka |
4,778 |
Bangalore |
St. John's High School |
KA |
| 3 |
01decoder99t |
4,563 |
Chennai |
SBOA Matriculation Hr Sec School |
TN |
| 4 |
35decal98ka |
4,132 |
Bangalore |
St. John's High School |
KA |
| 5 |
16urban3ap |
3,440 |
Chennai |
SBOA Matriculation Hr Sec School |
TN |
“Participation is increasing very rapidly. We know that FIM will soon be helping millions of students all across India,” says NovusSTS representative Don Black. Citing exponential growth of FIM in the U.S over the past eight years, Black says U.S. Students solved more than one-third of a BILLION maths problems in just the past ten weeks.
Gautama Bhamidi shares computer time with his brother, Atreya, so that they can both use the FIM site at home.
“In the last week, we’ve seen the overall program participation nearly double in India,” adds Patel. Students like Atreya Bhamidi, who attends the Meridian School in Madhapur, are the reason. “ I like First in Math because my favorite subject is maths and it helps me in things I haven’t yet been taught, like division. FIM is also fun and I have more than 900 stickers already.” His brother, Gautama, agrees. “I love getting many stickers so I do the program every day. I also like unlocking new games and icons.” Meridan is currently ranked #6 among all schools in India, across all standards.