Improving Elementary Math Learning Through iPad Games

Abstract: Mathematics has proven to be challenging to many from a very young age. Young students are influenced by their teachers on how to feel about math and how well they can perform. Currently many methods of teaching mathematics do not encourage learning, but instead promote memorization which has been shown to increase students' anxiety about math. Math anxiety affects student performance as well as their ability to understand the material. Fractions are one of the most difficult concepts for young students to learn. Various techniques have been created in order to better instruct students on how to understand fractions. More recently digital learning techniques have become more popular and have been shown to increase student engagement and improve performance. In this paper, we present three iPad mini-games, each of which use a different educational method for fraction instruction. The target user of the games are elementary school age students, so all of the games use illustrations of animals and food to represent the fraction learning material. The goal of the games is to curb math anxiety and improve the student's understanding of the material.

Note: Senior Honors Thesis. Advisor: Lorie Loeb. Revision 2 changes the cover sheet, relative to Revision 1.

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Kaya M. Thomas, "Improving Elementary Math Learning Through iPad Games." Dartmouth Computer Science Technical Report TR2017-825, May 2017.

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