A game-based approach to promoting adaptive rational number knowledge

• Published in: Mathematical thinking and learning Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 411 - 427
• Main Authors: McMullen, Jake, Koskinen, Antti, Kärki, Tomi, Lindstedt, Antero, Määttä, Saku, Halme, Hilma, Lehtinen, Erno, Hannula-Sormunen, Minna M., Kiili, Kristian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Routledge 01.10.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: adaptive expertise; classroom intervention; Educational Environment; Expertise; Game Based Learning; Games; Learning; Mathematics education; Numbers; Rational numbers; Students; Teaching methods
• ISSN: 1098-6065; 1532-7833
• DOI: 10.1080/10986065.2023.2177818

Adaptive expertise is a highly sought after, but difficult to achieve, outcome of mathematics education. Many teaching methods appear to support the development of adaptive expertise only in a small proportion of students. Game-based learning environments may be useful for supporting adaptive expertise. Therefore, we carried out a quasi-experimental classroom intervention to examine the possibility of using a game-based learning environment to promote adaptive rational number knowledge, a potential indicator of adaptive expertise in the domain of rational numbers. The Number Line Elaboration and Exploration learning environment relied on the increasing elaboration of the number line analogy as a means for students to explore connections between multiple aspects of rational number knowledge. Our results show the game-based learning environment was successful in promoting adaptive rational number knowledge. These results provide directions for the development and examination of how learning environments may be able to support adaptive expertise.