It seems that the traditional pencil and paper problems could lose some ground when it comes to improving performance in arithmetic tasks. A study carried out at the Ghent University (Belgium) has compared the degree of improvement in arithmetic skills of a group of students who for three weeks practiced different computer mathematics games with the execution of a second group that performed mathematical tasks with traditional exercises of pencil and paper.
A total of 52 children participated in the study, recently published in Computers & Education (2015), who were assessed for their working memory, planning and visual-motor skills before and after training. They were also asked about the fun achieved with the different trainings, and they were given math tests according to their academic course at the beginning and end of the experiment.
The results showed some interesting findings that could mark the trend to use new technologies to improve numeracy skills in children. Specifically:
1. After three weeks, only the students who trained with the math video game scored higher on the second math test than on the first, indicating that they improved significantly more after training.
2. In addition to the improvement in arithmetic skills, the group that trained with the computer game also improved in their working memory capacity, something that did not happen in the other group.
3. Regarding their experience with training, the students of the training group with the game described it more frequently as ‘exciting’, generating a positive affective response, while the members of the training group with pencil and paper exercises used more often the adjective ‘boring’.
Mathematical skills are relevant for academic performance and also in daily life, and that is why it is one of the concerns of parents and teachers around the world. Studies like the previous one could serve as a guide when designing programs to improve these skills in a more fun and attractive way for children.
Marisa Fernández, Senior Neuropsychologist, Unobrain
