Exploration of kinesthetic gaming for enhancing elementary math education using culturally responsive teaching methodologies

In this paper a novel computer-assisted culturally responsive teaching (CRT) framework is presented for teaching mathematics to 5th grade students. The curricular basis for this framework is Gloria Jean Merriex's award winning curriculum program, which uses music and body gestures to help students build associations between mathematical concepts and culturally inspired metaphors. The proposed framework uses low-cost kinesthetic sensors along with a embodied virtual reality gamimg environment that extends such proven CRT methodologies from a traditional classroom into a digital form. A pilot study was performed to investigate the efficacy of this framework in 5th grade students. A group of 35 students participated in this study and the results are discussed in detail.