Playing with numbers: Development issues and evaluation results of a computer game for primary school students

Abstract

Development and evaluation issues of a computer game, named "PwN", are presented in this study. PwN application aims to enhance students' mathematical thinking, as well as to examine their problem solving strategies when confronted with simple mathematical tasks such as addition and multiplication. The application operates with random numbers that fall in a "box". Individual scores are calculated when the appropriate computation is achieved. PwN development was based on the linear model using prototypes with continuous formative evaluation. Summative evaluation results indicate that the application improved the children's skills both in addition and multiplication tasks. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media.