Date of Award
5-2019
Document Type
Action Research Project
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Education
Department
Education
First Advisor
Yasemin Gunpinar
Department/School
Education
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of digital games on students’ engagement and motivation. This study took place in a small, rural school in the Midwestern United States. The subjects for this study were two classes of seventh-grade students in gradelevel mathematics. Digital review games and paper-and-pencil reviews were alternated from weekly for the eight weeks of the study. Data collection tools included student completed Likert scale questionnaires, on- and off-task counts and behaviors, a teacher reflection journal and final student questionnaire. The results showed that students were more behaviorally engaged during paper-and-pencil style reviews but more emotionally and cognitively engaged with the digital games. Overall, this study was inconclusive on whether digital games had a greater impact on both student engagement and motivation over paper-and-pencil style reviews. These findings suggest a blending of digital games and traditional reviews would be best in middle school mathematics.
Recommended Citation
Skala, Jamie L.. (2019). The Effects of Digital Games on Engagement and Motivation. Retrieved from Sophia, the St. Catherine University repository website: https://sophia.stkate.edu/maed/313