Do you have questions about how to teach your children math and problem-solving skills? Have you thought about the best ways to help your children apply math to every day life?
Since its premiere on PBS KIDS in 2002, the math-mystery cartoon "Cyberchase" teaches math and problem-solving to children across the country through humor, action and adventure. Targeting 8- to 11-year-olds, "Cyberchase" features a team of curious kids and their cyberbird pal Digit (Gilbert Gottfried) who outwit and outsmart the ultimate bad guy -- Hacker (Christopher Lloyd) -- as he tries to take over Cyberspace.
Matt Wilson, otherwise known as "Harry" on "Cyberchase," and editorial director Frances Nankin were online Monday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. ET to discuss teaching math to children and the PBS program.
The series appears on over 349 PBS stations across the United States and reaches close to 5 million viewers weekly. (Check local listings.) Each CyberChase episode is followed by "Cyberchase for Real," a live-action educational supplement linking concepts learned in the show to real life experiences, and is hosted by Wilson ("Harry") and Bianca Marie DeGroat ("Bianca").
Related Links:
PBS Parents' Guide to Early Math
Cyberchase Online Content
The transcript follows.
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Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: Thanks so much for joining us!
HARRY: Yes thank you very much ! I'm very stoked to be here!
FRANCES: Many kids feel they can't do math, and are easily problems they're faced with at school. For these kids it helps to show that math is everywhere and everyone can be successful with it. And we're delighted to be able to answer your questions today.
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Warrenton, Va.: My 4 year-old loves Cyberchase and visits the PBS Web site regularly to "practice" her math skills. However, when watching the show the math concepts seem to be too evasive while the story's plot seems to grasp her attention. Is she simply too young to understand the math on most shows? I try to watch with her and teach her as the show is on, but can't always commit to this.
Thanks for the great show and accompanying Web site!
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: CYBERCHASE is targeted to kids 8 to 11, but we do often hear that the show is very popular with kids under 8. These younger children relate strongly to the story.
But many also relate to particular math topics that have relevance to their personal experiences. If your child is not yet relating to the math in the story, it's because the child is not yet ready. But research indicates that they are getting ideas from the shows that they can later apply to their math development.
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Washington, D.C.: Hi Matt! Do you have fun playing "Harry" on the show? What's your favorite part about it? Thanks!
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Absolutely! I love getting to do on TV all of the different things that make up my life, like unicycling and juggling and eating... :) And the fact that we're simultaneously teaching math is a major perk.
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Okemos, Mich.: (A parent typing in the following for a daughter.) How did you get the idea to make Cyberchase program? What was your first show you ever made of Cyberchase? I really like the show. My best one is the Halloween one. I hope you answer lots of questions. Lots of people like your show. I am seven years old. My name is Emma.
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: The idea for CYBERCHASE came in 2 parts. First we decided to do a show about math because we looked around and saw that no one was doing this. And we on the team saw a real need to help kids with math and show them that it could be fun and useful too. We then decided the show had to be full of action and adventure and mystery. We figured this was a good way to change how kids see math, and that would help them think "I can do this!"
HARRY: Hi Emma! Glad you like the show. I really like the Halloween one too. This year I'm dressing up as an ironing board. Hey! did you know there's a whole week of spooky fun episodes Oct 24-28 and on the big Halloween day too!
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washingtonpost.com: Cyberchase TV Schedule
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Maryland: I am a parent of 3 girls -- 2 in the target range for Cyberchase. I can't count the number of times my oldest was watching Cyberchase and would say things like, "Hey! Symmetry! We just did that in math class!" Cheers to you for making math fun and approachable, by both girls and boys.
And the girls think you're silly but fun. I like the "for real" segments, because they nicely tie in the skills from the animated portion to "real life".
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: Thanks for the support! Be sure to check out the "Symmetrizer" game in the Games section of CYBERCHASE Online.
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washingtonpost.com: Cyberchase
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Providence, R.I.: Hi Harry, do you dress the same in real life as you do on the show? And do you really like brussel sprouts? I like the show a lot.
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Yes! And yes! I love vintage clothing and bright colors and my eyewear is very important to me. (I have 7 pairs of glasses!) Brussel sprouts are truly my favorite vegetable, and I think they get a bad rap.
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Alexandria, Va.: What are some ways to extend the math kids learn through the CYBERCHASE shows into our everyday family life?
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: There are a number of things you can do. For example, point out the math you are doing in your every day life - such as taking money out of the bank or shopping at the store or measuring in a recipe. Talk about it out loud with your child - what you're thinking, or what problems you're solving. Bring your children into the process and let them help you find the answer.
You can also go to the Parents & Teachers section of CYBERCHASE Online. There are a lot of activities you can do at home with your kids. Browse the site, and look, for example, at "Lesson Plans & Activities" and all the materials listed there.
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Washington, D.C.: Hi Matt & Frances!
Matt - I noticed that you haven't been featured in some of the more recent Cyberchase For Real segments. Are you returning to the segment in the future or is Bianca taking over for awhile? Also, have you always enjoyed math or has that come with your work on Cyberchase?
Frances - Do you have plans to encourage teachers to utilize Cyberchase in their lessons? Or is it only meant to reinforce math concepts at home?
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Actually Bianca and I have done the same number of shows, it just depends how they're shown on TV. Sometimes they show a bunch in a row with me, and sometimes a bunch in a row with her. I have always enjoyed math. I happen to have a degree in biophysics and love the idea that I am helping kids eliminate their math anxieties. Yay math!
FRANCES: Lots of teachers use CYBERCHASE in their classroom. They tell us that CYBERCHASE is changing the way they're teaching because of our unique approach to math.
We hear they use it as a motivator to get kids interested in a particular topic.
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Online games: I really like the online games that Cyberchase has available. They are even used in the computer lab classes at our elementary school. Keep up the great work!
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Rock on! I love those games too!
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Harrisburg, Pa.: How did you get the job portraying Harry? Did you act before? Did you audition for the part or were you approached to play the role?
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Yes I auditioned for the role and it's still my favorite job. I've been acting since high school.
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Sykesville, Md.: I just wanted to let you know that my two kids love Cyberchase! One is 11 the other is 7. One of each gender.
Keep up the good work and I hope you continue with more story lines (and hey, how about more advanced math ... more ordering of decimals, fun with fractions, moving along the road to calculus).
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: So glad you like it! You can use the math your kids are seeing on CYBERCHASE to extend their learning. For example with estimation, the next time you go to a restaurant challenge your kids to estimate the total bill.
And if you like decimals, be sure to play the "Railroad Repair" game at CYBERCHASE Online. For geometry, take apart cereal boxes to see how the 3-dimensional box is made from 2 dimensional shapes.
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Sterling, Va.: My 4 year-old-son loves your son. I am so amazed at the math skills he has learned from watching. There was an episode that taught how to add with regrouping. My son picked up on it immediately and can now add multi-column addition with regrouping. I also repeat the math concepts he has learned in his daily activities. Thanks for such a wonderful educational television show.
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: Great! This is clearly an example where the story helps support the math concept and makes it accessible to your child. We often hear from parents and teachers that kids internalize the math concepts and apply them to their everyday experiences, both for fun and practical uses.
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Washington, D.C.: My two kids have loved watching your show the past year or so ... Do you have any suggestions for interactives beyond watching. Any good sites they can check out that will be as engaging?
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: Have you checked out CYBERCHASE Online? That's obviously my favorite! You might want to participate the contest that's currently online through 10/31 for a fun bit of problem-solving and a chance to win great prizes like a laptop computer and great CYBERCHASE stuff.
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New York City: What new Cyberchase stories and math concepts can we look forward to this fall?
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: There are 5 great new shows on all this week! Find out about them at CYBERCHASE Online. You can watch a promo for them too!
FRANCES: The math concepts include using line graphs to track change; finding out why smaller gears turn faster than larger gears.
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Madison, Wis.: My two boys and I love your show. They are both considerably younger than your target audience, but they are completely engaged by the show and find Harry hilarious. The older boy (4.5) really "gets" some of your themes and talks about them (e.g., patterns) frequently.
Thanks, and keep up the great programs.
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: Why thank you! Be sure to watch me this week when I try out for the New York City fire department!
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Alexandria, Va.: Not a question but a comment ... my 6 year old LOVES your show. What a great option to other stuff out there for this age. He loves to "beat Hacker," and hardly realizes that he's learning something in the process.
Compared to other shows for the early elementary set, this and it's time-slot neighbors Arthur and Maya are great.
We were so disappointed to lose Cyberchase when DirectTV switched from PBSKids GO! to Sprout last week. We hope to find Cyberchase on again soon.
Thanks again for such a great show.
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: Be think the concept of good versus evil is a great way to engage kids in our target age group. Hacker is a funny, villainous, not scary foil for our audience. He's voiced by the wonderful Christopher Lloyd.
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washingtonpost.com: PBS Direct Satellite Schedules - 'Cyberchase'
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New York, N.Y.: Hey guys,
Great show! I watch it with my son. My question is about the "real" sections at the end. I enjoy them as an adult because the music during them is full of musical jokes and references, like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. Who writes that for you and how do you do that? I picture a committee sitting around and saying "and now we want this particular visual wisecrack and also this particular musical wisecrack." It's really clever.
Ned, father of your fan Anthony
Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: HARRY: I love the music too. It's always a treat when I see the final cut of each episode. We're lucky enough to have really talented composers working with us. One team does the live-action part and another does the cartoon.
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Matt Wilson (Harry) and Frances Nankin: FRANCES: It's great to hear from so many of you! We're glad to hear your and your families are getting so much out of our show.
Your home and neighborhood are full of opportunities to explore math CYBERCHASE-style and we hope today's chat has been helpful.
HARRY: Thanks for logging into cyberspace with us! I gotta bail but I'll see you on PBS KIDS GO!
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Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
