Mathematical games are widely used in primary school classrooms, yet the activities that are labelled as "games" vary considerably in their structure, cognitive demands, and potential to support student reasoning. This conceptual paper offers a typology that distinguishes between pseudo-games, superficial games, gamification, and…

Background/purpose: This study investigated the impact of the Test Survey for Students (TSFS) software, a game-based learning intervention (GBL), on the mathematical achievement and attitudes of Qatari fourth-grade students. Materials/methods: Utilizing a mixed-methods approach guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the TPACK…

This document describes the game ThunderHawk, intended for use in the first and second cycles of basic education (1st to 6th grade). The game was developed as didactic material to reinforce the fundamental operations of addition and subtraction.

The complex relationship between schools, parents and children surrounding mathematics homework is one that is yet to be fully resolved. In a contribution to reconfiguring mathematics homework, a take-home mathematics games kit focusing on multiplication was trialled with primary school children and their parents. Diary and interview data from…

In this article, we demonstrate how playful learning serves to provide optimal learning opportunities through teacher-guided play. First, we describe the theoretical design principles that can be leveraged to support mathematical learning for students that have been underserved. Then, we provide concrete examples of evidence-based games that can…

This article describes how the authors developed the activity Speaqual to enable their students to "speak" about the "equal" sign and foster communication of their reasoning. The article explains how to play Speaqual and how the students were thoroughly engaged in a friendly competition, centralizing algebraic concepts and…

In the early years of school, pupils have a very positive approach towards any new topic. Very often, the first contact with mathematics in the Italian school risks giving a limited and somehow negative impression, generating long-lasting effects. In this paper, we report on a series of experiences carried out in a second-year class of a primary…

Background: Prior work has shown that middle school students struggle with algebra and that game-based educational technologies, such as DragonBox and From Here to There!, are effective at improving students' algebraic performance. However, it remains unclear which aspects of algebraic knowledge shift as a result of playing these games and what…

This report focuses on the 2023-2024 implementation of "My Math Academy" at Epic Charter Schools in Oklahoma. "My Math Academy" was first used with a small pilot group of students and educators at the charter school network in school year 2022-2023, and based on the initial positive results, the implementation of the program…

An integer-based mathematical game was the main subject of the study. The aim of this study was to analyse the mathematical content of the game which was developed by a fourth-grade student called Esin, and to examine the intuitive learning that develops through this game. The game was based on the addition of the positive or negative numbers won…

Games are frequently used to promote math learning, yet the competitive and collaborative contexts introduced by games may exacerbate gender differences. In this study, 1st and 2nd grade children in the U.S. (ages 5-8; N = 274; 70% White, 15% Asian, 2% Black, 1% Native American, 14% mixed or other race; 17% Hispanic) played either a competitive,…

In the current technology-driven era, digital game-based learning (DGBL) has emerged as a practical approach for enhancing mathematics achievement among young students. It is believed that digital drill-and-practice educational games can replace traditional pen-and-paper drills in mathematics education and have a better influence on incorporating…

Background: Performance with fractions has been a weak point in U.S. education for decades and has not improved in recent years (Siegler, 2017). High School math teachers frequently rate their students' knowledge of fractions as "poor" and see this lack of foundational knowledge as one of the top barriers to students mastering algebra…

Low mathematics scores in the U.S. have been pressing educators to find engaging strategies and effective tools to promote math performance. While emerging technologies, such as digital math games, show promises in improving mathematical education, existing studies have garnered mixed findings and thereby necessitating further investigation. This…

Many studies have confirmed that digital game-based learning can effectively improve students' learning motivation and that properly integrating learning strategies into digital games can effectively improve students' learning achievement. However, rare research has been considered the long-term effect of learning retention. In the current study,…