Digital Game Design Process for the Concept of Area

Abstract

Designing a digital game using method, activities, contexts and problems which have been proved to be effective in mathematics education for a long time, will increase the effectiveness and success of the game. The purpose of this study was to reflect the digital game design process for the area concept. The design-based research method was used in the study. The digital game was developed by the researchers in a circular design process including the design, analysis, evaluation, and revision. In the design process, preliminary concepts, skills, and the way to teach them were determined with the help of the literature on the concept of area aimed to be taught via the digital game, and then the mechanics and context of the game were designed under the supervision of three instructors of mathematics. After the design stage, fifteen students were asked to play the game in order to evaluate it. The findings showed that it is important to refer to the literature and to involve mathematics instructors in the process of creating a digital game by considering how such a game should be in terms of mathematics. Getting help from students with different socio-economic levels during the game design phase will help the development of the educational and game structure of the game.