Inproceedings,

MobileMath: the Phone, the Game and the Math

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Proceedings of the European Conference on Game Based Learning, Barcelona, page 507--516. (2008)

Abstract

Computer games appear to be able to engage students in meaningful learning, inside as well as outside of school. Mobile games, especially location-based games played on mobile phones with GPS, integrate the player's position into the game-play and thus support situative learning. This type of games can augment the reality by adding 'virtual elements' to it. In this paper we discuss the results of a pilot study on MobileMath, a location-based mobile game that integrates concepts from mathematics and geography. MobileMath is played on a mobile phone with a GPS receiver. It is designed to investigate how a modern, social type of game can contribute to students engagement in learning mathematics. Teams compete on the playing field by gaining points by covering as much area as possible. They do this by constructing squares, rectangles or parallelograms by physically walking to and clicking on each vertex (point). The shapes they construct are virtual elements added to the real world. As the game proceeds the free playing space gets smaller. It is possible to 'hinder' other teams and to deconstruct the shapes they made, points are gained by this also. During the game, in real-time the locations of all teams and all finished quadrilaterals are visible on each mobile phone. The game data are stored online and can be viewed back and discussed later. In this pilot study the usability of MobileMath was tested with three different secondary schools. Four one-hour games, each with seven or eight teams of two students (n=60), were played around the schools. Data were gathered by means of (participatory) observation, analysis of the games played, a survey and interviews with students and teachers. The results show highly motivated students, who enjoyed playing the game. Students indicated they learned to use the GPS, to read a map and how to construct quadrilaterals.

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