Play and Learn: Effect of Math Games on Student Motivation and Performance
Location
Elementary Classrooms - Preston 1
Proposal Track
Research Project
Session Format
Presentation
Abstract
A primary goal of math education is to build math competence and confidence. Unfortunately it is too common that many students have math anxiety and fail to achieve desired proficiency in math as they go through grade schools, for different reasons. Despite mounting research supporting the use of manipulatives and games in elementary math, repetitive drill and practice with worksheets remain a staple of math education in elementary schools. In hopes of boosting student motivation and math learning, this action research project was conducted to examine the effect of using math games for practice in small groups among 3rd grade students. During one semester, students in an inclusive 3rd grade classroom were placed in flexible small groups for math instruction and practice. During daily math block, one group of students played skill-focused math games for reinforcement while the teacher worked directly with another group and the third group did independent work using the digital curriculum. A comparable 3rd grade class in the school was also used as the control group for the study, that did not include a small group playing math games during the math block. Data on student performance in math benchmark assessment and attitude towards math learning were collected at beginning, middle, and ending of the semester for analysis and comparison. This presentation shares findings from the research project and discusses classroom implications of using math games in elementary math instruction.
Keywords
Math Instruction, Student Motivation, Math Achievement, Elementary School
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Lovett, Lauren and Feng, Jay, "Play and Learn: Effect of Math Games on Student Motivation and Performance" (2019). Georgia Educational Research Association Conference. 35.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gera/2019/2019/35
Play and Learn: Effect of Math Games on Student Motivation and Performance
Elementary Classrooms - Preston 1
A primary goal of math education is to build math competence and confidence. Unfortunately it is too common that many students have math anxiety and fail to achieve desired proficiency in math as they go through grade schools, for different reasons. Despite mounting research supporting the use of manipulatives and games in elementary math, repetitive drill and practice with worksheets remain a staple of math education in elementary schools. In hopes of boosting student motivation and math learning, this action research project was conducted to examine the effect of using math games for practice in small groups among 3rd grade students. During one semester, students in an inclusive 3rd grade classroom were placed in flexible small groups for math instruction and practice. During daily math block, one group of students played skill-focused math games for reinforcement while the teacher worked directly with another group and the third group did independent work using the digital curriculum. A comparable 3rd grade class in the school was also used as the control group for the study, that did not include a small group playing math games during the math block. Data on student performance in math benchmark assessment and attitude towards math learning were collected at beginning, middle, and ending of the semester for analysis and comparison. This presentation shares findings from the research project and discusses classroom implications of using math games in elementary math instruction.
