Effects of mini-games for enhancing multiplicative abilities: A first exploration

Abstract

Developing knowledge and understanding of multiplicative relations is a main goal of primary school mathematics education. It is important that students consolidate basic multiplication table facts as well as learn how to flexibly apply this knowledge in more complex multiplicative problems [e.g., 1, 2]. Mathematical computer games are considered to contribute to attaining both these learning goals [e.g., 3]. However, as recent review articles have pointed out, clear empirical evidence of the effects of educational computer games is sparse, and in-class longitudinal studies are needed [e.g., 4, 5]. In the BRXXX study we use a large-scale longitudinal design to provide evidence for the domain of multiplication and division. Moreover, our study goes beyond the use of computer games in class and also includes playing games at home. We investigate the effects of multiplication and division mini-games from the popular website RekenWeb (www.rekenweb.nl). Our research questions are: 1) What are the effects of playing multiplicative minigames on students’ multiplicative abilities?; and 2) In what setting are multiplicative mini-games most effective? In this paper we present the preliminary results of the first year of the study.