Mathematics learning opportunities when playing a Tower Defense Game
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v2i4.82Keywords:
Tower Defense game, videogames design, mathematics, problem solvingAbstract
A qualitative research study is presented herein with the purpose of identifying mathematics learning opportunities in a commercial version of a Tower Defense game. These learning opportunities are understood as mathematicisable moments of the game and involve the establishment of relationships between the game and mathematical problem solving. Based on the analysis of the nature of these mathematicisable moments, we present several design options that are being implemented in a didactic version of a Tower Defense game.
References
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[2] Randel, J. M., Morris, B. A., Wetzel, C. D., & Whitehill, B. V., The effectiveness of games for educational purposes: A review of recent research, Simulation & gaming, Vol. 23, Nr. 3, 1992. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1046878192233001
[3] Kebritchi, M., Hirumi, A., & Bai, H., The effects of modern mathematics computer games on mathematics achievement and class motivation, Computers & Education, Vol. 55, Nr. 2, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.02.007
[4] Van den Heuvel-Panhuizen, M., Kolovou, A., & Robitzsch, A., Primary school students’ strategies in early algebra problem solving supported by an online game, Educational Studies in Mathematics, Vol. 84, Nr. 3, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10649-013-9483-5
[5] Rosas, R., Nussbaum, M., Cumsille, P., Marianov, V., Correa, M., Flores, P., Grau, V., Lagos, F., López, X., López, V., Rodriguez, P. & Salinas M., Beyond Nintendo: design and assessment of educational video games for first and second grade students, Computers & Education, Vol. 40, Nr. 1, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0360-1315(02)00099-4
[6] Hamlen, K. R., Children’s choices and strategies in video games, Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 27, Nr. 1, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2010.10.001
[7] Bottino, R. M., Ferlino, L., Ott, M., & Tavella, M., Developing strategic and reasoning abilities with computer games at primary school level, Computers & Education, Vol. 49, Nr. 4, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2006.02.003
[8] Panoutsopoulos, H., & Sampson, D. G., A study on exploiting commercial digital games into school context, Journal of Educational Technology & Society, Vol. 15, Nr. 1, 2012.
[9] Bishop, A., Mathematical enculturation: A cultural perspective on mathematics education, Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1991.
[10] Salen, K., & Zimmerman, E., Rules of play: Game design fundamentals, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004.
[11] Vygotsky, L. S., The development of higher forms of attention in childhood, Soviet Psychology, Vol. 18, Nr. 1, 1979.
[12] De Guzmán, M., Enseñanza de las ciencias y la matemática, Revista iberoamericana de educación, Vol. 43, 2007.
[13] Connolly, T. M., Boyle, E. A., MacArthur, E., Hainey, T., & Boyle, J. M.,
A systematic literature review of empirical evidence on computer
games and serious games, Computers & Education, Vol. 59, Nr. 2, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.03.004
[14] Gros, B., Digital games in education: the design of games–based learning environments, Journal of Research on Technology in Education, Vol. 40, Nr. 1, 2007. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2007.10782494
[15] Charsky, D., From Edutainment to Serious Games: A change in the use of game characteristics, Games & Culture, Vol. 5, Nr. 2, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1555412009354727
[16] Ke, F., “A qualitative meta–analysis of computer games as learning tools”, In Furdig R. E. (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Effective Electronic Gaming in Education, US: IGI Global, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-59904-808-6.ch001
[17] Gee, J. P., What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy, Computers in Entertainment, Vol. 1, Nr. 1, 2003. http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/950566.950595
[18] Dickey, M. D., Engaging by design: How engagement strategies in popular computer and video games and inform instructional design, Educational Technology Research and Development, Vol. 53, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02504866
[19] Katmada, A., Mavridis, A., & Tsiatsos, T., Implementing a Game for Supporting Learning in Mathematics, The Electronic Journal of e-Learning, Vol. 12, Nr. 3, 2014.
[20] Wouters, P., Van Nimwegen, C., Van Oostendorp, H., & Van Der Spek, E. D., A meta-analysis of the cognitive and motivational effects of serious games, Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 105, Nr. 2, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0031311
[21] Sitzmann, T., A meta-analytic examination of the instructional effectiveness of computer-based simulation games, Personnel Psychology, Vol. 64, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.2011.01190.x
[22] Perrotta C., Featherstone G., Aston H., & Houghton E., Game-based learning: Latest evidence and future directions, Slough, England: National Foundation for Educational Research, 2013.
[23] Baek, Y. K., What hinders teachers in using computer and video games in the classroom? Exploring factors inhibiting the uptake of computer and video games, CyberPsychology & Behavior, Vol. 11, Nr. 4, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2008.0127
[24] Young, M. F., Slota, S., Cutter, A. B., Jalette, G., Mullin, G., Lai, B., Simeoni, Z., Tran, M., & Yukhymenko, M., Our princess is in another castle a review of trends in serious gaming for education, Review of educational research, Vol. 82, Nr. 1, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.3102/0034654312436980
[25] Chow, A. F., Woodford, K. C., & Maes, J., Deal or no deal: using games to improve students learning, retention and decision making, International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, Vol. 42, Nr. 2, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2010.519796
[26] Nejem, K. M., & Muhanna, W., The effect of using computer games in teaching mathematics on developing the number sense of fourth grade students, Educational Research and Reviews, Vol. 8, Nr. 16, 2013. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/ERR012.143
[27] Harris, A., Yuill, N., & Luckin, R., The influence of context-specific and dispositional achievement goals on children’s paired collaborative interaction, British Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol. 78, 2008. doi:10.1348/000709907X267067
[28] Grugnetti, L., & Jaquet, F., A mathematical competition as a problem solving and a mathematical education experience, Journal of Mathematical Behavior, Vol. 24, Nr. 3, 2005. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2005.09.012
[29] Schoenfeld, A. H., Mathematical problem solving, Academic Press, 1985.
[30] Schoenfeld, A. H., “Learning to think mathematically: Problem solving, metacognition, and sense–making in mathematics”, In Grouws, D. (Ed.), Handbook for research on mathematics teaching and learning, New York: MacMillan, 1992.
[31] National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Principles and Standards for school mathematics, Reston: NCTM, 2000.
[32] Lesh, R., & Zawojewski, J., “Problem–solving and modelling”, In Lester, F. K. (Ed.), Second handbook of research on mathematics teaching and learning, Reston: NCTM, 2007.
[33] Lester, F. K., & Kehle, P. E., “From problem–solving to modeling: The evolution of thinking about research on complex mathematical activity”, In Lesh, R. & Doerr, H. (Eds.), Beyond constructivism: Models and modeling perspectives on mathematics problem solving, learning, and teaching (pp. 501–518). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003.
[34] Pólya, G., How to solve it, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1945.
[35] Verschaffel, L., Greer, B. & De Corte, E., Making sense of word problems. Swets and Zietlinger Publishers, 2000.
[36] Engle, R. & Conant, F., Guiding principles for fostering productive disciplinary engagement: Explaining emerging argument in a community of learner’s classroom, Cognition and Instruction, Vol. 20, Nr. 4, 2002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1207/ S1532690XCI2004_1
[37] Van Den Heuvel–Panhuizen, M., The role of contexts in assessment problems in mathematics, For the Learning of Mathematics, Vol. 25, Nr. 2, 2005.
[38] Cobb, P., y Whitenack, J. W., A method for conducting longitudinal analysis of classroom video recordings and transcripts, Educational Studies in Mathematics, Vol. 30, Nr. 3, 1996. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00304566
[39] Guzmán, D., Videojocs educatius: creació d'una plataforma per a l'anàlisi de les estratègies utilitzades a un joc de tipus Tower Defense, Master thesis, Barcelona: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2012.
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2015-12-07
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Special Issue on Digital Games for Learning Mathematics
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How to Cite
Mathematics learning opportunities when playing a Tower Defense Game. (2015). International Journal of Serious Games, 2(4). https://doi.org/10.17083/ijsg.v2i4.82
