Teaching Rational Number Addition With Video Games: Is Within-Game Instruction and Feedback a Good Thing?

• In Event: Poster Session 20
  In Poster Session: Developing Number Sense in K-8

Abstract

Understanding the meaning of rational numbers and how to perform mathematical operations with those numbers seems to be a perennial problem in the United States. Based on previous work, we hypothesized that giving students more time to practice using rational numbers in an environment that enticed them to explore the meaning and apply their understanding of rational numbers and rational number operations might prove educationally beneficial. We developed a video game to investigate this hypothesis and to estimate the effect sizes of different in-game instructional formats. Our findings suggest that students using a game designed in this manner can increase their ability to add rational numbers and that less overt instruction in games may be more educationally beneficial to students.

Authors

• Terry P. Vendlinski, SRI International

• Gregory K.W.K. Chung, University of California - Los Angeles