Serious Digital Games: Enhancing Mathematical Performance and Motivation in Students with Dyscalculia

Abstract

This research investigates the impact of digital math serious educational games (SEGs) on improving math skills and motivation among sixth-grade students, with a particular focus on first-degree equations, and a specific emphasis on students with developmental dyscalculia. A comparative study was conducted between two groups: one comprising 52 students who engaged with the digital math SEG “Battleship,” and another group of 52 students who utilized the traditional curriculum textbook.
The study’s objectives were to assess the effectiveness of digital math SEGs in enhancing mathematical performance and to evaluate the motivation levels of students with Developmental Dyscalculia (DD). The assessment tool
included a test on first-degree equations and the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). This study innovatively integrates Constructivist Learning Theory and Self-Determination Theory to design and evaluate the impact of digital math SEGs on performance and motivation.
Results revealed that students using the digital math SEG significantly improved their performance compared to those using the textbook. Although the textbook group reported slightly higher motivation, the difference in motivation between the two groups was not statistically significant, highlighting the complexity of motivational factors for students with Developmental Dyscalculia.