Enhancing Children's Numeracy & Te Reo Skills using Computer Games
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Other Title
Authors
Nand, Kalpana
Baghaei, Nilufar
Casey, John
Baghaei, Nilufar
Casey, John
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2014
Supervisors
Type
Conference Contribution - Paper in Published Proceedings
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
gamification
learning
games
literacy
numeracy
engagement
children
Māori language teaching
learning
games
literacy
numeracy
engagement
children
Māori language teaching
Citation
Nand, K., Baghaei, N., and Casey, J. (2014). Enhancing Children's Numeracy & Te Reo Skills using Computer Games. Proceedings of 22nd International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE)(Ed.), Nara, Japan. 30 November - 4 December, 2014. (pp.647-652)
Abstract
The use of computer games as common vehicles for education, as opposed to pure entertainment, has gained immense popularity in recent years. In our earlier work, we investigated the appealing characteristics of engaging computer games for children and designed an educational tool based on those characteristics. In this paper, we present the results of a study conducted with 120 primary school children, in which two versions of our proposed educational tool (features enriched vs feature devoid) were used for four weeks to teach primary school curriculum areas of Numeracy and Te Reo Maori language. The effectiveness of the educational tool was measured using a pre-test and a post-test, as well as other indicators such as subjective analysis, the frequency and duration of time on playing the game. We found that the features enriched game enhanced children’s learning in both Numeracy and Te Reo curriculum areas more than the feature devoid version. In the case of Numeracy, the increase in scores was twice as much as the feature devoid version and in the case of Te Reo it was five times as much. Finally, the results of the subjective analysis showed that the feature enriched game was more popular with children – the test group indicated that they enjoyed playing the game more than the participants in the control group and are more likely to recommend it to their friends. The results also showed that the sound effects, the visual effects, the level of challenges in the game and the feedback messages contributed more to their engagement.
Publisher
International Conference on Computers in Education
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Link to ePress publication
DOI
Copyright holder
International Conference on Computers in Education
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